When the Hogwarts Express arrived at the depot in Hogsmeade, half of the village, along with the four Heads of Houses, were there to escort the students to the safety of the castle.

Severus assessed Daphne Greengrass, thankful that the girl seemed to be in one piece and with her wits still about her. Still, he would send his student straight to Poppy as soon as they arrived at the castle. An owl had already been sent to her parents, and Severus would make certain to speak to them as well.

Minerva and Pomona were not so fortunate. Ms Stimpson's aunt was there to escort her home. Severus had only been casually acquainted with Pat, but he knew him well enough to know that his family had not been aware of his loyalties. No doubt Mrs Stimpson was in as much of a state of shock as her young daughter.

Pomona had Randall Stebbins off to the side from the rest of her House, speaking with two sympathetic-looking Aurors. If anything, their sympathy seemed to be lost on Mr Stebbins. The stern-looking young man paid them no attention; he only stood there searching the crowd until his eyes found what they were looking for and became locked on Harry.

Severus needed to get to Harry and he had no time to worry about Minerva and Pomona's charges. Their parents had just tried to kill his son and there was no sympathy left in him for the children, no matter how innocent they might be. At that moment, Severus' only care was for his own child.

As Severus marched his way towards Harry and the children had wisely moved out of his way, he was strangely reminded of a Muggle film he had seen years ago—the one where the hand of God had parted the Red Sea.

Mr Weasley was the first to notice Severus approach and he nudged Harry with his elbow. "See, Harry…What did I tell you…Kneazles. The look on his face is enough to make You-Know-Who piss his robes."

"Thanks, Ron," Harry said to his friend, his frayed nerves apparently caused a lump to form in his throat, making it to bob as he swallowed.

Even Ms Granger took a step back. Severus wondered if she even realised she had stepped behind Mr Weasley…as if the gangly teen could offer her any protection from the enraged Potions Master.

When Severus stood before his son, his words left no room for argument. "Harry, you are coming with me."

From the corner of his eye, Severus noticed Minerva approaching. There was no more sign of the Stimpson girl. Apparently, she had been given over to the care of her relatives.

"Severus, Harry is a Gryffindor and should ride to the castle with his own House," Minerva proclaimed valiantly, but Severus made her regret her Gryffindor bravado by simply turning to face her and narrowing his coal-black eyes. "Never mind…Mr Pott…Snape…go with your father," the Deputy Headmistress stammered as she backpedalled quickly. The old cat then wisely turned her attention to her other lions.

Harry gave his friends what seemed to be an apologetic look and said, "I'll see you at the feast, then."

Weasley and Granger seemed equally as sorrowful. Mr Weasley gave a pathetic little wave and a half-hearted smile as he said to Harry, "Sorry, Mate."

Severus abruptly turned and stalked back to where his House awaited him. Harry must have hesitated, because it was a full five seconds later that he heard Harry's trainers approaching quickly to catch up.

Even from a distance, Severus could hear Mr Weasley comfort Ms Granger. Honestly—one would believe that Harry was being carted off to Azkaban, rather than being escorted up to the castle. "Don't worry, Hermione … Harry'll be just fine," The boy said in a tone that seemed more of an attempt to convince himself than Ms Granger.

Severus pulled Harry around to the far side of their carriage so they would not to be seen by prying eyes. The students were all boarding the carriages according to Houses. There would be two Aurors along with the Head to escort each House back to the castle. After word of the attack on the train got back to the villagers, many of them would ride or fly alongside the procession in an effort to protect the children.

As they neared the carriage, Harry began to hesitate. Severus turned irritably towards his son to chastise him for dragging his feet, when he noticed the look in the boy's eyes. Harry looked absolutely terrified.

Instantly something inside Severus began to panic. Had Harry been hurt after all? Was the boy trying to hide his injuries? Harry wasn't moving. Why wasn't Harry moving?

The boy didn't look injured but his eyes were focused intensely in the distance. Severus turned and followed the boy's troubled gaze. He instantly knew what had Harry so alarmed.

"Harry," Severus asked in a valiant effort to keep his voice level, "have you ever seen a Thestral before?"

Harry looked up to Severus with scared, wide eyes. It was almost enough to tear Severus' heart out. The boy looked closer to five than fifteen. The boy looked back at the beasts and shook his head. "No," he said—his voice was quavering. "What are they?"

"They're Thestrals," Severus said, looking back at the creatures with sympathy, "vastly misunderstood creatures."

"Oh, yeah," Harry said in a voice that sounded unconvinced. "That's what Hagrid said about Dragons."

Severus looked at the equine creatures with more scrutiny than he had given them in years. He supposed they did rather resemble a Muggle genetics experiment between a horse and a vampire bat gone south.

"Yes…well…I can see where they could put some people off," Severus objectively conceded," but I assure you, they are quite gentle."

Harry gave a considering look to the leather-skinned animals and began to tentatively walk towards the carriages once again, almost as if he were being drawn towards them. "I don't get it. I thought the carriages drove themselves. Why use these things now?"

"Thestrals have always drawn the school carriages, Harry. This is simply the first time you have seen them."

Harry turned to Severus with a look of curiosity and confusion. "I don't understand. The others don't seem to see them. Why can I all of a sudden see them now?"

For the most part, Harry was correct in his assessment. Most of the other children paid no attention to the Thestrals, but Severus noticed that a scattered few had been as taken by surprise as Harry had been. No doubt they had been the unfortunate few to have witnessed Stimpson's grisly demise.

Rather than lie to his son, Severus chose to sidestep the question. Severus had to focus on protecting Harry from present demons. He had neither the time nor desire to remind Harry of Cedric Diggory's death.

"Suffice it to say that you have not gone round the twist and the Thestrals are quite docile. They won't harm you," Severus said in a lame attempt to sound light hearted. It was as much of an effort to rid himself of the willies as it was his son.

Harry gave a short nod that Severus hoped that meant the boy believed him and the subject would be dropped. Severus' nerves were too on edge to explain why some can see Thestrals and others cannot. But the boy's pallor was still off and Severus could not shake his nagging worry.

He took his son's chin in his fingers and gently guided Harry to look him in the eyes. Severus had to quell his own astonishment at how much the boy had begun to look like him at that age. "Harry—tell me the truth. Were you hurt on the train?"

"No. Really, Dad, I'm fine. I guess I still have a bit of the collywobbles I was just caught off guard by the Thestrals, that's all."

Severus could detect no artifice in his son, but he still had to make certain. "Be that as it may, as soon as we reach the castle, Madam Pomfrey should have a look at you—get in," Severus ordered as he opened the door to the carriage. Then he used an easy charm on Harry's trunk and the luggage gracefully floated onto the bench inside.

Harry grudgingly obeyed Severus and sat on the bench opposite his trunk. "I don't see why I have to see her. I told you, I'm perfectly fine," Harry groused.

Severus gave no retort to his son's protests. Without getting in, he shut the carriage door and said, "Stay here while I make certain everyone is accounted for. I'll return shortly."

Severus cursed under his breath. He did not did not want to leave Harry alone, but he still had a responsibility to his House. Fortunately, unbeknownst to Harry or anyone else, Severus had already taken steps to assure that no one could get to his son while he conducted his head count.

Harry sat back in his seat, crossed his arms in a very Snape-ish manner and sulked (also very Snape-ishly). He gave a quick shudder when he saw the back of the Thestral's heads but decided to try to ignore them.

He had no idea what his father was up to, but presently he was four carriages down, speaking to Daphne Greengrass, who was now with her younger sister. Harry couldn't help but notice that his father never took his eyes off him for more than a second or two. Harry supposed he should feel appreciative that someone cared so much for him, but in truth, at the moment, Harry just felt annoyed. One of the main reasons he rode the train was so he could have a normal first-day experience with his friends. He had lost track of Ron and Hermione. The carriage Harry currently occupied was at the back of the Slytherin caravan and the Hufflepuff contingent was sandwiched between the Snakes and the Lions.

His father had made a gesture towards Harry's carriage and Daphne Greengrass and her sister looked in his direction and shook their heads. They then pointed to the carriage they were standing next to and the friends who awaited them. His father nodded and continued to count heads—always with one eye on Harry.

Harry was really annoyed now. Daphne Greengrass was the only student actually hurt during the attack, and his father was allowing her to ride with her friends! Harry grew tired of waiting and he was even more tired of being treated unfairly. He decided he was going to say as much to his father, but if he wanted to ride with Ron and Hermione, he needed to say something before his father returned to the carriage and they got underway.

Harry reached for the carriage handle. He jumped back away from the door as sparks flew out and zapped his fingers.

"Ow! Shite!" he exclaimed, and he began to suck on his abused fingertips. Of course his father would have warded the effing carriage!

Harry sank back into his seat in frustration and defeat, resigned to the fact that he would be riding to the castle with his father instead of his friends, no matter how unreasonable his father was being. If his dad could ward this carriage, surely he could ward one with Harry and his friends.

Harry sat there with his eyes closed, alone with his thoughts. Then, almost inexplicably, the strangest feeling crawled across his spine. Although he was certain that no one could touch him in the carriage, Harry suddenly felt exposed.

Harry slowly and reluctantly opened his eyes. The Slytherins in the coach in front of him were craning their heads and staring at him. Harry wondered if he had sprouted a second head. Just in case, Harry looked behind him. Perhaps they weren't staring at Harry, but at something in the distance. To Harry's annoyance, he was also being examined like some freakish zoo exhibit by the Hufflepuffs behind him. If Harry wasn't so sure that he would be given his first real punishment by his dad, not to mention a loss of House points, he'd stand up and give the lot of them a two-fingered salute. But rather than having to risk dissecting frogs for the next five months, Harry sunk back into his seat, and began to sulk once again—his arms crossed protectively over his chest, and his eyes shooting daggers at whoever dared to make eye contact with him.

After what seemed like hours, but probably wasn't more than five minutes, Severus finally returned to the carriage. Harry gawked in exasperation as his father entered the damned carriage as if the ward had never existed in the first place, and calmly sat himself next to Harry. To Harry's further irritation, his father was now sitting in the same manner Harry had been for the last five minutes. Upon realising this, Harry hastily uncrossed his arms and sat on his hands.

"How'd you do that?" Harry asked, leaning forward and indicating the carriage door.

His father only gave a quick glance to where Harry was indicated and asked with feigned innocence, "Do what?"

Harry was jerked into the back of his seat as the carriages abruptly began to move. "You know what I mean," he said jerkily as the clopping rhythm of the Thestral's hooves began to vibrate the carriage. "How did you manage to touch the door without getting hexed?"

"Magic." Harry never noticed the slight quiver at the corner of his father's lip.

In fact, Harry wanted to throw himself in front of the Thestrals. There was no sarcasm in the tone of Severus' voice, yet the irony hung so thickly in the air, one could slice it with a blade. How did he do that?

Harry huffily settled back and tried to convince himself he wasn't pouting. He crossed his arms in agitation, no longer caring if he looked like the teenaged doppelganger of Severus Snape.

Time seemed to crawl and Harry was still upset about not being allowed to ride with Ron and Hermione. It wasn't fair! Daphne Greengrass was the only one who had gotten hurt, yet she was still allowed to ride with her friends.

"Dad," Harry began, not even bothering to hide his ire, "I don't see why I couldn't just ride with my friends?"

"In case you have forgotten," his father said gravely as he looked down his crooked nose at Harry, "There was a Death Eater attack on the train." He then resumed watching the procession ahead, as if nothing else needed to be said on the subject.

"Really? A Death Eater attack?" Harry snorted in mock ignorance. "And here I thought Fred and George were demonstrating fireworks."

Severus' eyes narrowed dangerously at his son's insolence, but he continued to keep his eyes on his Snakes. "We'll discuss this later, Harry. Suffice it to say, I do not trust your safety to anyone else at this point in time."

Harry turned away from Severus. "Yes—well, sitting alone in this carriage with you, I stick out like a sore thumb," the boy said impudently.

"You're safer in a carriage with me than you would be in the company of dunderheaded teenagers." Harry's insolence was becoming tiresome, but Severus would have to address it later. He had no intention of throwing any more fodder out to the gossip hounds.

"I'm not talking about the Death Eaters," his son moped, refusing to look directly at Severus. "And my friends aren't dunderheads—I'm talking about that!" Harry pointed to the carriages ahead of them.

Severus ruefully admitted to himself that his Snakes did look as though their heads had been screwed on backwards. He was well aware that Harry's changed appearance was a point of curiosity, but he didn't want to highlight that fact to Harry. Severus was well aware that no teenager in their right mind would care to look like him, so he decided to detour that topic with a more humorous one.

He supposed there also had to be some sort of morbid fascination with Harry Potter and their stern Head of House riding in the same barouche without hexing each other. The fact that Harry and Severus were not having a congenial conversation also had to be apparent, even from a distance.

"Pay no attention to their inquisitiveness, Harry," Severus said, not even trying to keep his budding amusement from creeping into his eyes. "They are only curious as to whether or not I'm going to turn you into potions ingredients."

"Really?" Harry said in a voice more curious than irritated as his posture began to relax. "Why would they think that?"

"I think it would be obvious, Harry."

Severus leaned close to Harry's ear, but he kept his gaze on his House, letting the little berks know that he was well aware of their gawking.

He spoke in an imitation of his deadliest tone, "You, my dear son, have just had the bollocks to have an argument with Hogwarts' most infamous professor—in front of the entire school no less. At the very least, your sanity has come into question and some are probably even wondering if you have a death wish. Why, most wizards would soil themselves in fear of the consequences of such an offence. The curious masses are simply wondering if I'm going to exact some type of torturous punishment on you when we reach the castle, or if I'll just hex you right here on the spot."

Severus leaned back again, keeping as still as stone—as if nothing had just transpired between himself and his son. He always preferred to keep the brats guessing.

From the corner of his eye, Severus could see Harry begin to shake. For a moment, he thought his worst fears had been realised, and he berated himself for not having the foresight to have Albus create a Portkey straight to the hospital. But then, he looked at his son in wonder when he realised the boy was simply attempting to stifle his laugh.

But Harry leaned back in a posture that mimicked Severus' and said, "Let them wonder."

The mood between Harry and his father had lightened somewhat by the time darkness had fallen and they had reached the castle. Harry noticed as they passed the cast iron gates that something had changed. Something was definitely off. Looking up to the sky, he realised that the stars were no longer in focus. In fact, when he looked back, everything that was outside of the castle gates looked hazy.

Harry took off his glasses and began to clean them with the sleeve of his brand new robes. When he put them back on and noticed nothing had changed, he turned to his father and asked, "Dad, what happened to the stars?

"It is not your eyes, Harry. The Ministry erected new wards after what happened to Vincent Crabbe."

"New wards? I don't understand," Harry said as their carriage rolled to a stop.

"I don't see why not. The idea was essentially yours," his father said as he reached to open the carriage door.

"My idea?" Harry asked in confusion as he stepped down from the carriage. "I don't remember saying, anything about the school wards. I didn't know the school had wards to begin with."

"Of course the school has always had protective wards," Severus said. It looked to Harry as if his dad was sizing him up. All of the fuss and attention only served to embarrass Harry again, and he grudgingly wondered if this was how it was going to be from then on. "We can't just allow Death Eaters to stroll into Hogwarts and kidnap their own children, now can we?"

A smile of revelation came across Harry's face, making him forget his embarrassment for a moment. He did remember mentioning that, and his dad and the Headmaster had somehow gotten the Ministry to agree with Harry. "Does that mean Death Eaters can't come inside the castle?"

"That's exactly what it means," his dad said. Apparently the stern Potions Master had found fault with Harry's tie. "No person possessing a Dark Mark can pass the wards," he continued.

His father had managed to tie his tie so tight, Harry was beginning to wonder if he was tying a noose.

Harry squirmed under his all of his dad's fussing. "Dad, will you stop it. People are watching," he protested under his breath.

Unfortunately for Harry, it seemed as if his father's only concern was to make sure his son was well turned-out.

"Harry, your colour is still a little pale. I think before you join your friends in the Great Hall, a visit to Madam Pomfrey should be in order."

Harry was running so fast to catch up with his friends, he nearly skidded into the tall back of Ron. He felt as if the wind had been knocked out of him.

"Oi! Harry," said Ron in surprise. Harry leaned over with one hand on his knee and the other clutching his side, his lungs aching for lack of air. "Are you being chased by Dementors or are you trying to outrun your dad?"

Harry was still too winded to speak, but he shot a look at Ron that silently asked, 'How did you know?'.

"Harry—you didn't!" Hermione exclaimed in astonishment.

Harry didn't say anything, and his friends got the hint to keep quiet. He was still bent over but his eyes followed the other students as they began to find their way into the Great Hall. Too many stopped to gawp at Harry for his liking.

Once the crowd had thinned, Harry stood. He grabbed Ron and Hermione, each by an elbow, and hurriedly ushered them into the hall but stopped just inside the door. He anxiously looked over his shoulder to see if he was being followed. "Do me a favour and just act normal," he said under his breath.

Ron and Hermione both looked around, as if expecting an ambush. "Harry," Ron said nervously. "What's going on? I don't think it's a good idea to run from Professor Snape."

Hermione was equally on edge. "Harry, why did you run?"

Harry was aware that people were beginning to notice him and his friends hiding in the shadows, and it was making him feel like he was on display again. He was really getting tired of being watched. "I had no choice," he said quietly. "Dad wanted me to go see Madam Pomfrey. I told him that I was fine and to stop treating me like I was a Snidget. You know how he can get when somebody is being flippant with him."

"So we take it he was angry? What did he say?" Hermione asked.

"I didn't stay around for that part, actually," Harry guiltily admitted. "Dad looked like he was reaching for his wand, so rather than take a chance on being Levitated to the Hospital wing in front of the whole school…." He covered his mouth with his fist and coughed. He then quickly added as he hid his words, "I bolted."

Both Ron and Hermione gaped wide eyed at him as if he was a suicidal lunatic. "You bolted?" they chorused, almost too loudly.

"Not so loud," Harry admonished them through his teeth as he practically began to push his friends to the Gryffindor table. "People might hear."

Halfway down the table, Neville waved to get their attention. There was just enough room for the three friends between Neville and Dean Thomas. Ginny sat just on the other side of Dean…In fact, they were sitting rather close. He thought someone had mentioned that Ginny was dating Dean now, but that titbit of information had gone in one ear and out the other. Ron was glaring at the couple, and from the way he was giving a passable imitation of the Potions Master, Harry figured his best mate wasn't very happy with the arrangement.

Harry was too scared to look up at the head table. He was afraid that his father would home in on him and drag him from the Great Hall in front of everybody like a Firstie. But, as always, Ron was looking out for Harry's back. Just as Harry was beginning to take a seat beside Dean, over his other shoulder he could hear Ron say, "Uh oh."

"Harry, if I were you, I wouldn't look up at the head table," Ron said forebodingly. "Your dad's up there, and he looks like he could drop a basilisk."

Harry tried to shift himself so he could get just enough of a view of his father without looking obvious. He sighed when he noticed that as Ron sat down, his best mate scooted a couple of inches further from him.

Harry just managed to turn enough to get a look at his father, but his attempt at subterfuge was to no avail. His dad had seen him and Ron was right. If Harry could, he'd scoot farther away from himself too.

This was one time that Harry would rather have skived off the Welcoming Feast. It was a dismal affair. No sooner had Harry planted his arse on the bench than questions began to fly like bats from a cave.

No matter how much Harry, Ron and Hermione tried to explain that Snape had changed, Seamus Finnegan wouldn't stop with the insults. It was all Harry could do to keep from hexing his dorm mate when he asked, "Is it true what the papers are saying, Harry? Is the old git bastard really your Da?"

Harry couldn't help but smirk when Ginny told Seamus to "Stuff it."

Even Dean had taken Harry's side over that of his best mate. According to Dean, anyone who could cock a snook at You Know Who had his respect.

He felt genuine warmth knowing at least one of his classmates didn't hate him for being a Snape.

But no matter how much the others defended Harry, Seamus couldn't shut up. He even accused Harry of purposely changing his looks and railed on that it didn't matter if Snape was a spy, it didn't make him any less of an arse.

Only the fact that their Head of House had finally entered the Great Hall with the newest batch of petrified First Years kept Harry from giving Finnegan an impressive new set of donkey ears.

The only real high point to the feast was the announcement that Remus was returning as the DADA professor, resulting in subdued applause from most of the student body.

Harry noticed that Malfoy and Goyle looked particularly glum at the Slytherin table, and for once in his life Harry felt sorry for the prat and his gormless minion. They actually looked a little lost without Crabbe. Harry had never thought that Malfoy was capable of caring for anyone but himself, and Harry swallowed hard—thinking about how he would feel if he lost Ron or Hermione. Harry still had no idea how he was going to approach Malfoy about the potion, but he had to think of something.

The students had gone from sombre to outraged by the time the Headmaster finished his announcements. Of course Dumbledore had assured everyone that no student was seriously injured as a result of the attack on the train. The rumour had spread that the Death Eaters involved were actually parents of Hogwarts students and speculation was already circulating as to whose parents were involved.

As far as Harry was aware, other than the two students whose parents were at fault, he, Ron, and Hermione were the only students who actually knew the names of the Death Eaters implicated.

Almost everyone was noticeably relieved that the castle wards had been strengthened and that no one possessing a Dark Mark could infiltrate the castle. There weren't many who groused at this bit of news, but Harry noticed that most of those who were upset were in Slytherin.

The Great Hall was practically abuzz when Dumbledore announced that sacrifices had to be made for the safety of all. The buzz erupted into protests when it was announced that, until further notice, there would be no visits to Hogsmeade for the upper formers. The protest became an uproar when it was announced that Owl post was suspended for three days.

Many of the students had tried to speculate as to why Owl post had been suspended, but Harry was all too aware of the reasons. If word got out about the wards before Harry could warn the Death Eaters' children, parents like Narcissa Malfoy might withdraw their children from school, inadvertently putting their children in danger from their Marked spouses. That meant that Harry had only three days to make contact with Malfoy. He had to come up with something—but quick.

After the Headmaster's announcements, not too many had much of an appetite anymore. Even Ron seemed a bit put off his bangers and mash. He was only eating one sausage at a time instead of two.

Pudding was just being served. Harry decided he might have room for a half slice of treacle tart, when he notice the entire room had gone silent, and all movement from his House mates ceased.

A cold chill ran down Harry's spine, as if a rabbit just ran across his grave. Ron was frozen with his fork hanging in mid-air.

Harry's heart leapt into his throat as he wondered if the entire Great Hall had just been hexed with a Petrificus Totalus, when he saw a familiar shadow fall across the top of the table.

Harry knew who it was. He drew in a deep breath and held it in, as if it were his last. He slowly turned and looked up at his very grim and very unamused father.

Harry tried to smile innocently, but his smiled faltered, for his Gryffindor courage had just left him in his hour of deepest need. He managed to find enough air in his body to squeak, "D…Dad?"

"I believe you have an appointment with Madam Pomfrey." His father's words were barely above a whisper, but the stone walls seemed to quake, all the same.

Harry's survival instinct kicked in and rivalled that of any Slytherin. Although his fear had just come to pass, he knew better than to argue. Harry wiped his mouth with his serviette, more in an attempt to wipe off the sweat forming on his upper lip than any morsels of food. He took one last swallow of pumpkin juice to moisten his parched throat for the express purpose of muttering, "Y…yes, Sir."

Harry looked back to his friends before he was practically frog-marched out of the Great Hall by Severus. Hermione and Ginny gave him sympathetic looks that tried to tell him that it would be alright. The look on Ron's faced promised Harry that his best mate would attend his funeral.

Before the massive oak doors of the Great Hall slammed closed behind Harry, sounding his death knell, he could hear Seamus Finnegan break the eerie silence. "Poor blighter—his spleen's going to be part of this week's potions project, for sure."

Severus leaned against Madam Pomfrey's office door. He was waiting patiently for the results of Harry's exam. He had made certain that the matron subjected Harry to a very thorough physical exam. The boy would think twice before defying Severus again.

"You may get dressed now, Mr Snape," said Poppy as she emerged from the business side of the privacy screen. She approached Severus and reported, "Not a scratch on him—though I don't blame you for wanting to take such precautions. One never knows what non-verbal curses may have been thrown at the boy."

"Thank you, Poppy," Severus said as he gave a slight nod of appreciation to his colleague.

Harry stepped out from behind the privacy screen and tucked in his shirttail. The boy was still flushing from embarrassment. "Was all that humiliation really necessary?"

Severus did not answer his son straight away.

"I had originally planned for Madam Pomfrey to give you a cursory look over. However, since you saw fit to run away, I thought perhaps…"

"Hey!" Harry exclaimed in offence. "You mean to tell me that I had to go starkers in front of Madam Pomfrey because you were punishing me?"

Severus scoffed. "I believe your penchant for dramatics sometimes rivals that of the Headmaster, Harry. You were hardly 'starkers,' as you so eloquently put it. You kept your pants on." Then he turned around and menacingly leaned towards his son's face. "And the next time you think to defy me, you—will—think—twice."

Harry swallowed hard and said, "Yes, Sir." Harry thought that he would rather have a belt than be subjected to that type of mortification again. But Harry knew that for all of his father's sternness, he was not the sort to exact corporal punishment on a teenager. No—his father was much more imaginative than that.

Severus turned and continued to tread down the corridor. He spoke as he kept walking, knowing that Harry was right behind him. "Why did you feel it necessary to run off the way you did?"

Harry was a little embarrassed to say why. His reason seemed pretty lame now. "Well… I saw you go for your wand and thought that you might hex me into a Body Bind and Levitate me into the infirmary. You were pretty miffed."

Harry could hear his father give a deep chuckle, and Severus said, "No Harry, I was simply removing your trunk from the carriage, although I'll be sure to keep that in mind for next time."

Harry made a mental note to practice dodging hexes. "Where are we going?" Harry noticed that they were not going in the direction of Gryffindor Tower.

"I need to make an introduction," was his father's enigmatic explanation.

To Harry's horror, he recognized that they were heading for the Slytherin dungeons. "Wait…" Harry said as he stopped in his tracks. Severus stopped too. He was looking very impatient. "You're introducing me to the Slytherins? Why couldn't have this been done in the Great Hall?" Harry knew that he was in no danger. But he couldn't help but feel as if he were about to sick up.

"The entire Wizarding world knows who you are by now, Harry. I am simply going to enlighten my Snakes as to my…expectations."

Harry felt as if he had a Quaffle stuck in his throat. Sure, this time he wasn't going to be on the business end of one of his father's harangues, but Harry was quite sure he was going to be blamed for their discomfort. True—Harry had no qualms about being Snape's son, but being known as the teacher's kid could stir up a new Pixie's nest of trouble

Severus and Harry continued their way down the corridor with the eyes of portraits following them until they reached a small painting of a dark and foreboding forest. A man, dressed suspiciously like the headmaster, stepped out from a large hole in a rather dark and gnarled old oak.

"Password," it said in a thin, papery voice.

"Nequam nota," Severus intoned. The little man nodded, and then returned to his hole in the tree.

Harry wondered what the whole exchange was about, but didn't have to wonder long. A door, elaborately carved with snakes, magically appeared from the wall. The door swung open of its own accord, and Severus stepped aside, allowing Harry to enter first.

"What does that mean?" Harry asked curiously.

"Remind me that I need to teach you Latin," Severus said as the door silently closed behind him.

"I'll do that," Harry said dubiously.

Well, that was awkward.

Only fifteen minutes after entering the Slytherin common room, Harry and his father stepped out the heavy wooden door.

One did not have to be Albus Dumbledore to figure out who the children of Death Eaters were…at least those who knew they were children of Death Eaters. After Severus had summand his entire House to the Common Room, a small contingent of what had once been the Slytherin elite were huddled in a dark corner. Not surprisingly, that included Draco Malfoy, Greg Goyle and Pansy Parkinson. But there were a few that Harry hadn't recognised, and he had to admit it had been a bit unexpected to find Teddy Nott amongst them, standing off to the side. Harry had always thought that Nott was a quiet and unassuming bloke who didn't care much for cliques or boarding school politics.

Even those who didn't seem to have Death Eater affiliations eyed Harry with guarded suspicion. That didn't faze Harry too much, though. After all, he was a Gryffindor.

When Severus announced that Harry was, indeed, his son, the collective gasps should have sucked the oxygen right out of the dungeon. When his father announced that Harry was to be afforded the same respect as any other Slytherin, he was astonished that the upper years hadn't keeled over and died on the spot.

Harry didn't know if his dad's warnings would have too great an effect on how he would be treated by the Snakes now, but Harry was sure they would either have second thoughts about any sneak attacks on him and his friends, or they were going to have find ways to out-sneak their Head.

Yeah…as if.

Harry looked back and watched in wonder as the secret door to the Slytherin common room vanished away, leaving nothing but a small painting on a stone wall. Once Harry was sure they were far enough away from the dungeon common room to ensure that the walls did not have ears, he turned to his father and said, "I think if you want to get rid of Slytherin's dark reputation, you ought to start by getting rid of those snake skulls on the mantel." Harry shivered, remembering the four giant snake skulls. Their eye sockets may have been empty, but he still couldn't shake the feeling that he had been watched.

Severus gave him a glance with a raised eyebrow and a smirk. "Get rid of John, Paul, George, and Ringo? Why, they've been a Slytherin institution since before I came to Hogwarts. They're rather considered to be good luck if you rub them before an exam."

Harry swallowed, not even bothering to ask why four giant snake heads were named after a Muggle band from the Sixties or even if his dad was just taking the mickey out of him. Rub their heads? He'd rather just take his chances. But still, he guessed that with four ridiculous names like that, they didn't seem quite so creepy.

When they reached the corridor that led to Severus' private chambers, Harry stopped. It was getting late and he wanted to get back to the common room before all the food the twins managed to pilfer from the kitchens was gone. The post-feast celebration supplied by Fred and George's after-curfew raid was almost as lavish as the Welcoming Feast itself. And now that the dreaded physical and his punishment for running off were simultaneously out of the way, Harry found that his appetite had returned with gusto.

It was a case of being hungry and sleeping, but as it was, he wasn't going to get any sleep with the pit in his stomach.

"Dad…can I go to my own common room tonight? Classes start pretty early and I need to make sure I have everything in order for the morning."

His dad eyed him suspiciously. "I am fully aware of that, Harry, considering I must be up in time to teach them." He seemed to consider Harry's request. For a moment Harry was afraid his dad would say 'no', but after what seemed like forever, he finally sighed and said, "I would prefer that you stay in our chambers tonight…but it may be prudent for you to prove to your Housemates that I have not used any of your appendages in my potions, yet."

Harry gulped, "Yet?"