"Hufflepuffs are so stupid," Draco said.

Severus laughed.

"They are," Draco insisted. "They're so obsessed with being nice to Potter they won't even listen to reason because then their niceness wouldn't mean anything. I swear, I think they, more than anything else, have convinced the school that Potter's a werewolf. 'Be nice to Potter the werewolf.' Yeah, they're being nice, and they're so obsessed with it they can't stop and think."

"Perhaps you can think of something that will convince them," Severus said.

Draco shrugged. "I thought of a couple of things but explaining to people how they're stupid is one thing, there's only so much I want to be seen being nice to Potter in public. Or out of public for that matter."

"Focus on the Ravenclaws," Severus said. "And people have been noticing your efforts. They may not know what to make of them, but you will have time to shape those perceptions."

"Did you know there's a rumor going around that you're the one who tried to kidnap Potter," Draco said.

"Clearly I have done a poor job of instilling fear in the school populace," Severus said. "Everyone should know full well that if I had intended to kidnap Mr. Potter, then I would have succeeded."

"So do you have any suspicions?" Draco asked.

"Never trust the defense professor," Severus said.

"Everyone knows that," Draco said.

"Are there rumors about him?" Severus asked.

"There aren't actually," Draco said. "He's everybody's favorite, though how anyone can respect a man who dresses so shabbily, I don't know."

Lupin always did have a way of disarming people, Severus thought.

"I have an assignment for you." he told Draco.

"Another one?" Draco asked.

"Convincing the school that Potter is not a werewolf was your idea, I do believe," Severus said. "This should prove a challenge at least."

"You want me to convince the house elves to go on strike?" Draco asked.

"I said it was a challenge, not that it was outside the realm of possibility," Severus said. "Clarice Loxley, a fifth year Slytherin, is planning something. I want you to get her to confide in you what that is."

"Do you know what it is?" Draco asked.

"Of course," Severus said. "Ground rules are: no bribes, no blackmail, and no snooping through her dormitory."

"Well if you're going to take all of the fun things off the table what's the point?" Draco asked with a smile.

"I have taken the easiest means off of the table, they are also the riskiest," Severus said. "You will not always be a school boy. Be careful of what level of exposure you take on when you play the game. Did you finish your reading?"

"Yes," Draco said. "I get it already, being a dark lord is stupid. I do not need to read any more biographies."

"Oh there are more," Severus said. "But we can stop focusing on dark lords. Did you pick up any underlying themes?"

"Everyone dies," Draco said. "Both sides, neutral parties, allies, enemies, but just, everyone dies, and usually the dark lord too."

"What did you think about that?" Severus asked.

Draco looked thoughtful. "There aren't enough of us. Purebloods I mean, or just wizards in general I suppose. We can't just kill each other off."

"Should we avoid war at all costs then?" Severus asked.

Draco was silent for a moment. "It has to matter," he said.

Severus nodded. He would let the boy ponder on what mattered.

"Can I presume you have read the biographies on Salazar Slytherin?"

"Father used to think they made good bedtime stories," Draco said with a hint of a smile.

"Good, what do you think Salazar would have thought of those dark lords you read about?"

"He would have probably thought that they were stupid," Draco said. "I think he said something once about the cunning being blinded by their own ambitions."

"I want you to read up on the rest of the founders," Severus said.

"Even Gryffindor?" Draco asked.

"Especially Gryffindor," Severus said. "If you wish to understand how the world works you need to understand the people in it. Understand it beyond the jokes that get passed in the halls about the other houses."

"I should get to lunch before I get any more assignments," Draco said.

"That might be wise," Severus said.

Draco left and Severus had little time to himself before McGonagall arrived at his office door. She had the grace to knock and wait this time.

"What are you doing with Mr. Malfoy?" McGonagall asked. There was suspicion but no accusation in her voice.

"Well I'm not molesting him if that is what you were wondering," Severus said.

McGonagall gave him a tight-lipped glare.

"I was just tasking him to read the biographies of Godric Gryffindor," Severus said, and he enjoyed the dismissive look on her face that said she did not believe him. "Why professor, I thought we agree that I did not lie ridiculously."

"Well I did confirm your ridiculous tale," McGonagall said.

"I know," Severus said. "Harry told me as much a couple of nights ago over dinner."

"I must ask again what your intentions are with Mr. Potter," McGonagall said.

Severus opened his mouth to reply but McGonagall cut him off.

"Let us pretend that I have no idea what your concept of 'doing right' by a child is," she said. That brought Severus up short, in part because doing right by Harry was about as far as Severus had been able to figure matters at that point.

"It is complicated," Severus said.

"Of course it is complicated," McGonagall said. "It is one of the most complicated things there is. Even if we weren't discussing a boy who is famous and likely the target of several dark wizards, whom you used to work with no less. Parenthood is certainly not for everybody. This is a complicated matter, and if you are going to proceed in any fashion you need to figure these matters out before you trample all over a child's life."

"What do you want from me?" Severus asked.

"Are you going to acknowledge Mr. Potter as your son?" McGonagall asked.

"That is up to him," Severus said. McGonagall shook her head.

"Mr. Potter is hardly the sort to ask for what he wants. Children need stability, Severus," McGonagall said. "Mr. Potter is certainly old enough to communicate to you what he is looking for, but he needs to know where he stands with you; if, that is, you actually have something to offer him."

"Miss Granger had much the same thing to say," Severus said.

"Well she is rather smart," Minerva said. "You have spoken about what Mr. Potter wants. That is all well and good, but you had best make sure of what you want."

"I want to be a father to him," Severus said.

"I see," Minerva said. "Do you expect you'll still say that in a year or so?"

"This isn't just a product of me finding out he is my son, I do actually care for the child," Severus said. "He was rather clever about it. He got me to like him as a student before he told me. I do not anticipate that wearing off."

"See that it doesn't," Minerva said. "Because if you hurt him…"

"I do believe there will be a line, Minerva," Severus said. "Dire consequences, yes, I am sure. I have already hurt him. I know that very well. Do not think that I am not paying for that."

"No, Severus," Minerva said. "He is the one who pays for it. That is what you must not forget. What do you really know about Mr. Potter's relations outside of this school?" McGonagall asked. "I will be collecting names for students staying over winter holidays. As usual, I expect Mr. Potter will be signing his name. Do you know why that is?"

Severus was about to respond but he realized he did not know the answer. A few months ago he would have said that the boy was too spoiled to spend time with his family when he had a magic castle and a quidditch pitch to himself, but now he could say that he honestly did not know. Harry had never once brought up any of his relatives.

"What do you know?" Severus asked.

"I know that Mr. Potter has only ever received two letters from them in his time here," McGonagall said. "I know that they went to great lengths in an attempt to keep him from attending Hogwarts. I know he spent a full month with the Weasleys before his second year. Besides that I could not say, except that twelve years ago I had great misgivings about leaving Harry with them."

"Do you suspect anything?" Severus asked.

"Anything more than that they do not get along?" McGonagall asked. "No, but I do not expect that I would if there was anything to suspect."

"So you want me to take custody of him," Severus said. He had not thought that that was what she was aiming towards.

"I want what is best for Mr. Potter," McGonagall said tersely. "I am not going to make the assumption in this case that you can fulfill that role. You may be different this term, there has been a change in you, but change is fickle Severus Snape, and true change in a man is rare. Why should I think that this change in you is anything more but a passing fancy? It has been a few months, I have known you as a teacher here for twelve years."

"I have changed," Severus said. "It is not a passing fancy, but I do not need to prove that to you. I am proving that to Harry."

"See that you do," Minerva said. "He has enough stress in his life without having to wonder if his father is going to be his father."


IIIIIIIIIIIIIII


Quidditch practice was going better than it had the last time. The twins were on their game, the weather had cleared, and Harry had plenty of tension to let off on the quidditch pitch. Harry had been taking flak from some of the students over the whole werewolf thing and he was feeling fed up with it all. He had tried some of those mind clearing exercises from the book his father had given him the night prior, but he had been too preoccupied at the time to really get anywhere.

Flying was a good way to let go though, and Harry wondered if he could just fantasize about flying when he needed to clear his mind. He had caught the snitch a few times already and was just focusing on dodging bludgers and breaking up chaser formations. Seekers didn't have much to do besides look for the snitch really, and sometimes they were treated as a free agent on the field. The only ball they could touch was the snitch, but they could get close enough to the bludgers to draw them away, and they could force other players to change course all they wanted.

Wood had booked the pitch for most of the morning and by the time they were done, Harry's mind was a thousand miles away from werewolves and his classmates. Harry set about taking care of his gear, in no particular hurry even though lunch was about to start. He always took care of his gear first. His broom and his quidditch things were about the nicest things he had. He had only just begun when Fred and George sat on either side of him. They didn't look like they were getting ready to go, so Harry supposed it was on them to make sure he got back to the castle in one piece. While Harry appreciated the sentiment, he did not need watchers.

"Had a thought," George said. "About your werewolf problem."

"Wanted to run a couple ideas by you," Fred said.

"It's not another not-a-werewolf party is it?" Harry asked. "Because the last one didn't go so well."

"Well hey now," George said. "That was a good party."

"It's not our fault it got crashed by one of the many people who've failed to kill you," Fred said.

"People were having a right lot of fun, they were," George said.

Harry rolled his eyes. "So ideas?"

"Okay," Fred said. "So don't just say no because it sound stupid."

"Because it does sound stupid," George said.

"I'm tempted to say 'no' now," Harry said.

"See, now that doesn't sound like the boy who followed a bunch of spiders into the forbidden forest," George said.

"Well I learned from my mistakes," Harry said. "When someone tells you to do something and it sounds stupid, like say, 'follow the spiders,' it's probably because it's stupid.

"Well this one's actually a good idea," Fred said.

"It's just that it's also crazy," George said.

"Well I'm listening," Harry said.

"You can eat some wolfsbane in front of everyone," Fred said.

Harry gaped at him. "No," he said after a moment.

"Now Harry, that just isn't an adventurous attitude," George said.

"Yeah," Fred said. "You could have been like, 'what?' or 'that's crazy,' but you just went straight to 'no.'"

"We're going to pretend you said 'what?' incredulously," George said.

Harry sighed. "What?" he asked as drawn out and incredulous as he could manage.

"Why Harry I'm glad you asked," Fred said.

"You see, wolfsbane is totally poisonous," George said.

"But if you just nibble on a teensy tiny little bit, you'll pretty much be fine," Fred said with air quotes around the word 'fine.' "For the most part. A werewolf wouldn't be, it's way more toxic to them. See, instant proof."

"Noooo," Harry said, putting every bit of conviction he had behind the word, worried that the twins would try to talk him into it. He knew they probably could.

"Fair enough," George said. "But mind you that was the smart option."

"Oh there's an even crazier idea?" Harry asked.

"Well you can always just bite a Slytherin," Fred said.

"Why would I bite a Slytherin?" Harry asked.

"Well it doesn't have to be a Slytherin," George said.

"But they'd probably have it coming," Fred said.

"As strange as it may seem," Harry said. "I am still confused."

"A werewolf's bite is only contagious under the full moon," George said.

"But in human form their bite's still a curse," Fred said. "It leaves a scar that can't be healed. I mean, not that much of a curse, but hey, if you bite someone and it doesn't leave a scar after Madame Pomfrey heals it you're in the clear."

"You'll probably have detention," George said. "But what's a detention or two. This way you don't have to eat poison. Though come to think of it, if you're adverse to poison you might not want to put your mouth on a Slytherin."

"Oddly enough, I don't want to do either actually," Harry said.

"Come now Harry," Fred said. "It's one or the other."

"It really isn't," Harry said.

"It could be fun," George said.

"So you were asking about how the gloves were working out the other day," Harry said, changing the subject. "Saved my life that night."

"Really?" Fred asked, taking the bait. "Did you use them to get away?"

"I did," Harry nodded. "Went through the floor. Unfortunately it was right over the the entrance hall so…"

"The entry hall's like three bloody stories high," George said.

"Well I didn't know where I was at the time," Harry said.

"I mean good on you for getting away, but wow, I feel all responsible for telling you ahead of time not to go through floors."

"How does it feel," George asked his twin.

"Horrible," Fred said. "I wouldn't suggest responsibility to anyone."

"Good thing I've never tried it," George said. He turned back to Harry. "So, mouth full of wolfsbane or mouth full of Slytherin."

Harry was saved from having to answer by Oliver coming back into the change room, a towel around his waist and another one drying out his hair.

"What are you doing with my seeker?" he asked.

"Nothing," George said.

"Positively nothing," Fred said.

"Admonishing him to stay safe," George added.

"You know this one," Fred said. "Constantly getting into mischief."

"Well he does need an admonishment or two," Wood agreed. "Though I doubt you two are the ones to give it. I have to say, it's nice to be able to shower in peace after practice without you two chattering on."

"Us chattering on?" George asked.

"It's only to drown you out," Fred said.

"Always with the post practice commentary from you," George said.

"We should just get you a chalk board with a water repellent charm in the shower room so you can do things properly in there," Fred added.

Oliver waved them off and started changing while Harry turned his focus back onto his gear now that the conversation wasn't focused on him.

"Oh, so Harry," Oliver said. "How're those lessons coming along."

"Oh," Harry said looking up with a bit of a blush. "Not so good, I guess. Professor Lupin says I've got the charm down pat, but it just isn't working right now for me. I'm working on it though."

"But you think you'll have it by our next match, right?" Oliver said, sounding worried.

"Oh we're not playing anyone for like two months Olie," George said.

"Besides," Fred said. "We'll make sure to catch him next time."

"I don't want there to be a next time," Oliver said.

Harry had to reassure himself that he wasn't going to get replaced before he could look Oliver in the eye to reassure him.

"I'll get it," Harry said. "I'm working really hard, really, I am. And the professors say they're making sure the dementors stay away. There weren't any dementors at the last match. There won't be any at the Slytherin-Ravenclaw match either, you'll see."

"I just want to be sure," Oliver said.

"If the dementors storm the pitch just call a time out," Fred said.

"I can only call a time out if we have possession of the quaffle and there's no active snitch pursuit," Oliver said.

"So make a deal with Ravenclaw," George said. "Roger's a decent bloke, he'd probably call a time out for dementors."

"What if they're chasing the snitch?" Oliver asked.

"Oh, come on," George said. "What're the odds of that happening again?"

"You're giving the poor kid a complex," Fred said, gesturing towards Harry.

Harry shook his head to indicate that he was fine.

"I just want to be prepared," Oliver said.

"We are," George said. "Speaking of though, Fred and I are trying to get those new bats that Woodrow's put out for Christmas."

Oliver took the cue to exit the circular conversation and the four boys started talking equipment. Oliver finished dressing and left. With the older boy gone and his gear taken care of, Harry got down to his small clothes and headed for the showers with his arms wrapped around his chest, wondering, as he often did, why no one ever charmed the air in the locker room to be any warmer than the late fall air outside. He stopped at the first spigot thinking about the twins.

It had been nice feeling like they were defending him from Oliver, not that Harry really needed defending or that Oliver was someone he would need defending from, but the quidditch team had always treated Harry a bit like a little brother, which did feel odd. Harry thought about Ron's recent blowout with his brothers and thought that perhaps the twins treated Harry better than they did Ron. Which wasn't to say that they didn't tease him, because they certainly did that, but still, Harry thought it a bit unfair that he got more attention from the twins than Ron did, even off the quidditch pitch. He wondered if the twins would have ever had anything to do with him if he hadn't been a star quidditch seeker. He wondered what it would have been like to really have siblings.

Speaking of the devils, Fred and George walked in. Fred made a crude comment, intimating that he was interrupting something, causing Harry to blush. Oliver was right, the twins had no concept of having a relaxing shower after a hard practice and they chattered on and joked incessantly. Not that one could really have a relaxing shower with an audience, anyways, Harry supposed.

"Oh, hey, I've got it," George said. "You can just go starkers for everyone."

"Yeah," Fred said. "That's right. No bite scar, no werewolf."

Harry just sighed and started showering faster, glad that his back was to the twins and they couldn't see him blush.

"Oh but someone'll say he's polyjuiced," George said.

"That's right," Fred said, teasingly. "You'll have to be starkers for an hour, probably in the great hall, that should work."

"What do you think Harry," George asked.

"I think McGonagall would have something to say about it," Harry said.

"I suppose we are talking to a bloke who used to shower in his underwear," Fred smirked.

"Little shy there Harry?" George asked

"I was eleven," Harry defended himself with a mumble, feeling very self-conscious.

Harry finished quickly and went to get dressed, hoping that the twins wouldn't be too far behind. Everyone expected Harry to walk back to the castle with a minder, lest he be kidnapped again, and Harry needed to get back to the castle for his lab work, not to mention lunch before that.


IIIIIIIIIIIIIII


Cleaning up the lab took a bit longer than it normally did. Professor Snape's cauldron had erupted all over the place halfway through the period and the grayish green gunk seemed to want to bind to everything it touched. They actually wound up finishing early, since the professor had decided not to restart the brew until he had done an analysis of what had gone wrong, but Harry was more than ready to get out of the lab by the time they were done. With no test results to go over, Faisal was out of there before Harry was and Harry wasn't sure he wanted to be alone with the man. Not if he wanted to give Harry, 'the Talk.'

Harry grabbed his bag and headed for the door.

"See you, professor," he said, making it clear he was leaving.

"Did you make any headway with the book I gave you?" Professor Snape asked.

"Oh, yeah," Harry said. "I'm more than half-way done I think. I tried a couple of the exercises. I'll let you know when I'm finished."

He turned back to the door.

"How did it go?" Professor Snape asked.

"Hmm?" Harry asked.

"The exercises," Professor Snape said.

"Oh," Harry said. "Not too well I suppose. I wasn't really, um, I was sort of, um, upset about this… werewolf rumor thing that's going around."

"Has it gotten worse?" Professor Snape asked.

Harry shrugged. "It's mostly just irritating. The twins want me to eat wolfsbane in front of everyone so it'll stop."

"Remind me to poison them later," Professor Snape said.

"They were joking," Harry said. "I think. It's hard to tell sometimes."

The same could be said about Professor Snape of course. Harry wasn't sure if the man was serious about poisoning the twins, not with the way he had said it.

"The exercises, of course, are things you will need to be able to do while under stress if you are to truly master occlumency," Professor Snape said. "Though of course they would be much easier to learn first if you practice them with a cool head before you try to do it otherwise. Find some time to relax before you try again."

"Don't know about relaxing," Harry said, opening the door. "I've got plenty of homework, and classwork to make up to boot."

"If you need help with anything," Professor Snape said with some sort of significance. "I am here for you."

"Oh," Harry said. "Thanks. See you professor."

"Have a good afternoon Harry," Professor Snape said.

Harry left feeling somewhat relieved and somewhat stupid at the same time. He couldn't just avoid the man because he was afraid of some awkward father/son 'talk.' But that was definitely a topic Harry had no desire to go over with the man, or anyone really. Harry was enjoying the time he spent with the man and running away from him over something stupid like this seemed incredibly juvenile. Still though, Harry wasn't about to get anyone pregnant any time soon, why should he be miserable for his parent's mistakes?

"Well if it isn't the headmaster's pet dog," a sneering voice said, bringing Harry up short.

It was the older boy who had told him to play fetch with his books, who Ginny had blasted across the hall. The two of them where alone, and the much bigger student had a look on his face that Harry had often seen on his cousin's. Much like when he had had to deal with his cousin, Harry weighed his options. He could run back to his father's office, and hope that the boy's much longer legs wouldn't give him an advantage, or that he would be able to shield his back; he could try to fight, but he doubted his abilities against what looked like a sixth year. He could go through the walls, but the twins had warned him that a lot of the dungeons were warded and impassable.

"Werewolf's got your tongue Potter?" the boy said, stepping closer to Harry. "What are you even doing here? Is Professor Snape using werewolf's blood for some dark arts ritual he's trying out. I've got some spells I'd like to try out on a werewolf."

"Oh come off it Eckelson," Malfoy of all people said coming round the corner ahead with his entourage of Crabbe and Goyle.

"You standing up for werewolf rights?" Eckelson asked.

"Do you believe the silly rumors of Hufflepuffs?" Malfoy asked.

"It's not just the Hufflepuff's, everyone knows what he is," Eckelson said gesturing towards Harry. "And everyone knows you're playing the game so you can just stop with whatever stupid plot you've got going."

How Draco seemed to look down upon a boy who was a foot taller than he was, Harry did not know.

"It's not a plot," Malfoy said. "Just a fact. It's all facts. You don't have to be a Ravenclaw to understand the truth. Potter isn't a werewolf." He turned to Harry. "Don't you have better things to do than loiter in our dungeons?"

"Well they are such lovely dungeons," Harry said. "I love what you've done with the place, really, I mean they're just so…grey, but I do have too much homework to be enjoying them now I suppose. I'll just be off."

Malfoy rolled his eyes and Eckelson glared at him with a sneering disdain as Harry edged around him and walked down the hallway. He should probably start walking the dungeons under his invisibility cloak if he was going to be alone, he figured. Spending the night in the hospital wing after being kidnapped on the night of the full moon had sparked the rumors again, but everyone finding out that he had been drugged besides seemed to stretch their ability to believe that he had escaped on his own and the whole, "Greyback infected him and released him to infect the whole school," rumor was going around again. The longer the rumor had to fester it seemed, the more and more he got dirty looks, whispers, and brush ups in the halls.

Harry managed to get to the tower with no further incidents though. He sat down next to Ron on one of the couches and pulled his homework out. No sooner had he sat down though than an older boy stood up abruptly from the adjacent seat and walked off. Harry told himself it was just a coincidence.

Hermione helped keep them focused and they worked until dinner before returning to finish up what they had left for the day. Harry was confident by the end of the night he would be able finish what was left and still have time to relax the next day. The two boys wished Hermione a good night as they packed up their things. As was often the case, they were the last ones still studying.

"Hey Ron," Harry said, hesitantly. "Did your Dad ever give you, um, you know… 'the talk'?"

Ron's eyes lit up and he laughed. "Oh Merlin," he said. "Snape gave you the talk, didn't he?"

"What? No," Harry said almost frantically, looking around the common room he already knew was empty. "Just um…"

"Oh," Ron said with an air of understanding. "Got questions? Don't worry, I know loads."

"No," Harry said quickly. "No questions. I was just wondering. It was a stupid question."

Ron shrugged. "I've gotten like five different talks all together."

"Five?" Harry asked incredulously.

"Well yeah," Ron said. "My dad gave me this boyhood to manhood talk right before my first year, then he gave me, you know, 'the talk' talk, this past summer. He said the school doesn't teach us enough, you know? 'Cept he used all these weird muggle analogies about plugs and sockets that had me fairly confused. Well Fred and George figured I'd gotten 'the talk' 'cause I guess all my brother's got it right before their third years so they decided to give me their own version, which I'm pretty sure was all wrong and intended to humiliate me some day. So then I just straight out asked Bill while we were in Egypt and he told me, well, just a bunch of stuff really. Then of course we all got to sit through Madam Pomfrey's 'it's perfectly natural' lecture, which I can actually say does leave a lot out. So yeah, any questions, I'm your guy."

"Was it horrible?" Harry asked.

Ron shrugged. "Dads' were awkward a bit, the twins were horrible, Bill's was sort of cool, and I'd rather forget Madam Pomfrey's."

Harry thought on that. "So my dad's sort of told me he was going to give me the talk," he said.

"Oh that's going to be so awkward," Ron said, grinning at the thought of Harry's future mortification. "I bet he uses a bunch of potions analogies. Everyone uses analogies, even Bill did. Nobody just want's to say it."

"Say what?" Harry asked. Ron blushed. He didn't want to say it either it seemed.

"You'll see," Ron said, as though he didn't want to spoil a surprise.

"Oh I thought you had all the answers," Harry teased.

"Well now that I know you're getting them all from Snape I don't want to ruin the fun," Ron said.

"I don't want any surprises," Harry said.

"It's not the worst thing in the world," Ron said. "It's just a thing you have to go through and then it's done. When's the big day?"

"I don't know," Harry said. "It's just like a big hangman looming over my shoulder. I've sort of been avoiding him."

Ron rolled his eyes. "How long do you think that's going to work? Just get it over with."

Harry mulled that over.

"Is it working out?" Ron asked. "You know, just, in general."

Harry though. "Yeah," he said. "I think it is, and I want it to keep working out. It's nice, having a…you know?"

"Yeah," Ron said. "It is. Who'd of thought you'd ever say that about Snape though?"

"I'd have thought you'd been hexed something awful if you'd told me earlier," Harry said.

Ron grinned. "It still seems a bit unbelievable. Even now."

"That he's my dad or that I'm glad that he is?" Harry asked.

"Both I guess," Ron said.

It still seemed unbelievable to Harry that everything was working out. It shouldn't be possible; he knew that it really wasn't. Believing in magic had been easier. He still felt like he was waiting to see the whole picture.

"I'm knackered," Harry said.

"Last one's to bed again," Ron said, turning towards the dorms. "You'd think we were Ravenclaws."

"Ravenclaws don't go looking through tunnels for giant snakes," Harry said as they reached the stairs.

"Or giant spiders," Ron said.

"Or Professors we think are trying to bring back Voldemort," Harry said.

"That just makes us sound mental," Ron said.

"Sanity's overrated," Harry said. The two boys got up to the dormitory and quietly got ready for bed in the dark. Harry wondered if he was delusional to hope that things could work out with the Professor. He tried some of the mind clearing exercises from the book with mixed results. Even when he wasn't really thinking of anything, he still felt anxious about something. He wasn't sure when clearing his mind became sleep, but somewhere along the way the long day caught up with him and he drifted off.


IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII


"You wished to see me headmaster?" Severus asked.

"I did, Severus, I did," the headmaster said. "I have been very heartened to hear that matters are proceeding well with you and Mr. Potter, though I do have some concerns."

"I'm not going to hurt the boy," Severus said for what felt like the hundredth time.

"Of course not," the headmaster said. "But the war is not over, and though we have tasted peace, we all still have our roles to play."


IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII


Harry had decided sometime overnight to bite the bullet and let whatever talk was coming happen. He put on his invisibility cloak and headed into the dungeons after breakfast to visit with Professor Snape. There was no talk though, no mention of it even. Was it just a thing that was off in the vague future, or had the whole thing been in jest? Harry wasn't sure. He still didn't get his father's humor a lot of the time. He definitely didn't want to have that conversation any time ever, but if it was coming then he'd like to at least know about it in advance. He felt like that was something he should be prepared for ahead of time.

The visit was normal though. They talked about Harry's projects, he got more warnings to be wary of the defense professor, and they played chess for a while. It was nice. It would have been stupid to forego this so that he could avoid an awkward conversation. Though it would be stupid to think that all of this couldn't go wrong. It was nice to think that it wouldn't; it almost felt like it shouldn't, but Harry couldn't let himself truly believe that he was in the clear. When would Professor Snape realize that Harry wasn't who he thought he was? He had tried to tell him in part, had tried to hint, but he could have never truly exposed himself to the man. Professor Snape had seen some of what Harry should by all rights be hiding, and the man hadn't turned away. What they had now was nice. Harry liked to think that it would last. Harry had lunch with the Professor before leaving with an admonishment to stay safe.

Harry made his way invisibly up to the library and finished his homework with Ron and Hermione. Ron had been wheedling Hermione about her impossible course schedule when Harry had arrived and when the two boys had finished their assignments they helped Hermione by pulling books and looking up this and that. When they weren't doing that, they worked on their projects. Harry was about ready to start on some more advanced protection charms with Professor Flitwick and Ron was working on animating a couple of chess pieces.

After dinner, Harry split off from his friends to go meet with Benjamin for their self defense practice. Though they were both in Gryffindor, it was the first time Harry would be talking to the older boy since the attempted kidnapping and Harry was a bit nervous for the encounter.

"Hey," Benjamin said. "How've you been? I'd heard you were hurt pretty bad."

"Oh, you know Madame Pomfrey," Harry said. "I was healed up long before she let me out of there. What did you hear?"

"Just that you were drugged and still managed to get away," Benjamin said. "Plus all the werewolf stuff, been hearing a lot about that too."

"I'm not though," Harry said. "They're just rumors."

"I figured," Benjamin said. "So how did you get away."

Harry blushed. "Jumped a couple banisters," he said. "Took a short cut to the dungeons. This potion I was on at the time sort of counteracted the potion he'd drugged me with so I didn't stay passed out. I was still pretty hopeless though, with the whole defense thing. I didn't even think to draw my wand until I'd gotten away and by that point I'd messed my arm up too bad to do anything with it." He didn't like telling the boy that all the work they had done together had been useless, that he had been useless. Though Benjamin didn't look put out.

"A lot of what you learn in self defense classes and the like can slip your mind pretty quickly when you actually need it," Benjamin said. "That's why you need to practice it a lot, so it's like second nature even when you can't think straight."

"I guess I haven't practiced enough," Harry said.

"Oh it takes time," Benjamin said. "Why do you think I'm always looking for someone to practice with? Come on, nothing new today, we'll just practice basic moves, over and over again. Next time, it'll just come naturally."

'Next time,' Harry thought. They warmed up and practiced manually disarming each other first, a short wooden dowel standing in for wands that they didn't want to accidentally snap.

"Good work out," Benjamin said an hour and a half later when they were both tired out.

"Yeah," Harry said, heading for the door. "I feel better about some of those moves now."

"Good, we'll make a master of you yet," Benjamin said before he stopped Harry at the door. "Oh, by the way, I've been meaning to ask you about our resident potions master."

"Oh?" Harry asked, wondering where this was going.

"Well it's just he's been a lot… now I don't want to say 'nicer,' but he's definitely been different this year," Benjamin said. "Figured since you've been working on his potions project you might have some insight. What are the chances he's going to stay Snape 2.0?"

A question Harry had pondered before.

"Chances are good," Harry said. "I think. I mean who knows, really. He's really different in the potions lab. He's always having us gather round for demonstrations, and he talks about what he's doing a lot different than how he does in the classroom. But, um, I think he has been getting, like, progressively nicer as the school year's gone along. There've been a couple of times when I've messed up and he's been cool about it."

"Hmm," Benjamin said. "Anna is thinking she wants to pursue a career in potions maybe, but she isn't sure about putting up with Snape for an additional two years, you know, if he were to go back to how he was. Next year is OWLs for us and she's already trying to plan out her study schedule."

Harry shrugged. "Might be a safe bet," he said. It was a bet he himself was making.

"I wonder how many people've made career decisions based on how much they like their teachers," Harry said.

"I wonder how many Potions Masters we're missing in this country," Benjamin said.

Harry shrugged, almost feeling guilty on his father's behalf.

"Are you heading back to the tower?" Harry asked.

"I'm, um, meeting Anna actually," Benjamin said with a bashful grin.

"Oh," Harry said. "Okay, I'll see you then."

Harry left the classroom and started heading for the tower. It was a little close to curfew and there weren't that many students out. Harry wondered if Benjamin's plans for the evening included getting back to the tower on time. He spent the walk wrapped up in his own musings about his father. He had just passed the library, though, when he saw the flash of a spell from behind him which bathed the hall in front of him in orange, his own shadow stark against the granite floor before the spell impacted his shoulder. He dodged to his side, drawing his wand.

"Protego," Harry cried, searching the corridor behind him for whoever had attacked him. There was no one there. There wasn't a sound. His heart still beating heavily in his chest, Harry took stock of himself. His right shoulder throbbed a low burn.

Still keeping a wary eye out, Harry chanced a look at his shoulder. His robes were unmarred, so it was likely an enchantment.

"Finite Incantatum," Harry said, pointing his wand at his shoulder. It still burned. Harry put one of his gloves on and went through the wall next to him. He came out in an empty room that looked too big to be an office and too small to be a classroom. It suited his needs though. Harry peeled back his collar gingerly and looked at his shoulder. It didn't look like a serious burn, it was just really red. The spell probably emulated a thermal burn or a sunburn. That narrowed things down a bit. Harry tried to think of what the counter would be.

"Calor Finite," Harry tried.

"Solis Finite," Harry tried again. He tried a few variations on the latin with no luck. Either he was barking up the wrong tree or the spell wasn't persistent and he was looking at damage done. Either way he would need to see someone about it. Harry crossed Madame Pomfrey off, she would probably try to keep him overnight. He thought about Professor Snape but immediately dashed him off the list, he was trying not to be needy. Professor Lupin was… well he probably wasn't out to get him, but Harry didn't feel like taking any chances at the moment. Professor McGonagall would make a big fuss, Harry was sure, and besides, Percy could probably handle a minor burn just fine.

Harry walked out of the door to find himself in an unfamiliar corridor. He considered going through the wall again, but he didn't want to wind up where he had been attacked. He picked a direction and started walking. The hall quickly ended at a doorway and Harry found himself in the Great Hall. How going through a wall on the third floor had taken him to the first, Harry didn't know. The castle had always defied logic.

Harry kept his glove on and his wand drawn as he made his way back up towards Gryffindor Tower. He was going up the stairs to the third floor when he had the great misfortune to cross paths with the same Slytherin boy he had encountered the day before. Eckelson, Malfoy had called him.

"It's the savage mutt, is it?" Eckelson asked loudly of no one; they were the only ones around. The older boy blocked Harry's path. Harry's eyes darted around. He was in the middle of an open stairway, the only thing he could go through was the stairs themselves and he did not want a repeat performance of the previous Monday. He considered turning tail and running but he really didn't want to show his back to the boy.

Harry's grip firmed on his wand. "Get out of my way Eckelson. We've both got places to be."

"Oh your place is nowhere in this school, you half-breed piece of shite," Eckelson sneered. "Of course it never was, you son of a mudblood." Eckelson took a step down towards Harry.

"That muggle blood sure threw your dark lord for a loop didn't it," Harry said angrily. "And my muggleborn mom sure as hell made better use of her Hogwarts education than you ever will." Eckelson took another step forward, drew his wand and sent a blasting hex at Harry in one fluid motion. Harry was barely able to shield it in time. His shield barely held.

"Expeliarmus," Harry cried out, but Eckelson lazily countered it. Harry took a step back before remembering what Benjamin had taught him.

"Someone ought to teach you a lesson," Eckelson said, and there was utter contempt in his voice and loathing in his eyes. "That's not how a dark creature speaks to a wizard. That's not how a half-blood speaks to a pureblood."

"Stupefy," Harry cried, only to have the red bolt deflected to the side.

"Insepia," Eckelson said, and Harry started to swat himself frantically all over as he felt spiders moving along every inch of him, crawling underneath his clothes, over his face, through his hair. He started twitching all over, his body moving jerkily. It took him a moment to realize that there was nothing there, but he could feel them, he felt it in his bones that they were there even as his brain told him that it was fake. He forced himself to stop moving, though the feeling persisted, but even knowing that there was nothing there, he felt his body continually try to jerk around; his arms wanted to flail, every muscle screamed at him to crush the spiders but he forced himself to stand still. He was twitching and trembling so violently, it hurt. Eckelson was laughing.

"That was amusing Potter," Eckelson said with a sneer. "Perhaps if you entertain me, I shall forget how you have slighted me. We never finished our game. Would you like to play fetch?"

"I'm nobody's plaything!" Harry said angrily, his skin still crawling as he tried to bring his breathing under control. He was trembling all over from the feeling, he wanted to scream.

"Then you're useless," Eckelson said. "And you don't belong here. Expelliarmus!"

Harry dodged to the side, and tried to cast his own disarming charm, but Eckelson had followed his first one with a rapid second and Harry's wand was ripped from his hand and it soared past Eckelson's head and onto the landing above.

Harry didn't hesitate, he closed the distance between the two of them on shaky legs and jabbed at Eckelson's solar plexus. Eckelson's arms moved to cover his middle and Harry reached for the older boy's wand arm. He had the wrist locked up just like he had practiced a hundred times with Benjamin. Eckelson dropped his wand and Harry reached down to pick it up only to be kicked in the face as his fingers wrapped around the older boy's wand. He fell backwards and down the stairs.

A lot of things hurt, but still, the thing that was driving him crazy was the feeling of thousands of arachnids crawling around on his skin.

"Finite Incantatum," Harry tried on himself. The feeling did not go away. Eckelson was almost upon him.

"Stupefy," Harry said, brandishing the wand against it's owner who was stalking down the stairs after him. Harry didn't know if he was shaking too much or if he was just a poor match for the wand, but nothing happened whatsoever. Harry threw the wand over the banister to the next floor below and took up a defensive stance as he trembled all over.

Eckelson threw a punch at Harry's face that he dodged. A few more maneuvers and he had his back up against the wall. Unfortunately, it was an external wall and going through it wasn't the best option at the moment. Eckelson grabbed Harry by the collar and wrenched him forwards and to the ground. Harry bucked as Eckelson straddled him but after that it was all he could do to try to protect his face as Eckelson started punching him repeatedly. He stopped punching him only to yell at him.

"You don't touch a wizard's fucking wand!" Eckelson shouted, his face a blur, Harry had lost his glasses somewhere along the way. Eckelson grabbed Harry's collar with both hands. "Half breeds can never touch a wizards wand. You shouldn't have your own fucking wand. You don't have the right. You don't deserve magic."

Harry reached over Eckelson's right arm to grab his left hand which he wrenched into an arm lock that had Eckelson rolling sideways to relieve the tension. Harry tried to maintain the lock, to maintain control, but his violently shaking hands couldn't keep the hold and Eckelson tore himself free and got up quickly, lunging forwards to knee Harry in the stomach. Harry spasmed and curled up into a ball. Harry didn't know how long Eckelson kept kicking him, but eventually there was a flash of light and it stopped.

Harry stayed curled up in a ball, twitching madly, until someone stooped in front of him, he couldn't see who.

"Make it stop," Harry pleaded. "There's a spell, make it stop."

"What is it doing?" Professor Lupin's voice asked.

"Spiders," Harry said. "Crawling all over me, everywhere, make it stop, please."

The professor countered the hex and Harry was able to stop trembling after a while. Now though, he was left with all of his injuries.

"Let's get you to Madame Pomfrey," Professor Lupin said.


IIIIIIIIIIIII


His last essay graded, Severus started to organize his desk; a task he fell into when he wanted to think and needed something to do with his hands. Severus had hoped that another meeting with his son would make things clearer to him. He had been pondering Minerva's words for some time, the headmaster's as well, and he had three things to consider; what did Harry want, what did Harry need, and what did Severus himself want?

Severus cared for Harry. That at least was clear. He still loved Lily, but he knew now that he wanted to do what was right for Harry, for Harry's sake and for his own. But what was right in this instance? Did Harry need a father or did he need a spy, a body guard? Could Severus function in all of those roles? Severus knew what Albus wanted, but Albus's focus was on the Dark Lord. Severus's had to be on Harry.

Severus had just been about to leave his office when there was a knock on the door. He opened the door to find Lupin standing there looking very grave.

"Lupin," Severus said, his lip curled. "My office hours are over, you will have to see me tomorrow between the hours of three to five."

"I have one of your students with me in need of disciplinary action," Lupin said, and Severus could detect an undercurrent of anger.

"I know you yourself lack discipline, but surely you know how to administer a detention," Severus said, he stuck his head out the door and spotted Eric Eckelson standing a couple of meters down the hall. "I must ask, do you even take points during your classes?"

"This goes beyond points and detention," Lupin said. "I found him savagely beating an underclassman in the hall. He also used a compulsion spell on him. All he could say for himself was that the poor boy was asking for it."

Severus's eyes narrowed. "Injuries?"

"Everywhere as far as I could see," Lupin said. "A broken nose, two black eyes, likely broken ribs. He was kicking the student repeatedly with him curled up on the ground, I couldn't begin to imagine what internal damage was done."

"It's nothing he didn't have coming," Eckelson said hotly from the hall. "It's not like Madame Pomfrey isn't just going to fix it like…"

"If you have learned anything in my house, Mr. Eckelson," Severus bit out. "You should at the very least know to hold your tongue right now. Now get in my office and stand before my desk until I have time for you." He waited for Eckelson to get in the office before he turned back to Lupin. "And what did the other student have to say about the matter."

Lupin hesitated, but then with a sigh he explained. "It appears that the incident was sparked by these," he grimmaced. "Werewolf rumors," he said.

"Harry," Severus said. "Potter," He corrected himself quickly. "The student he attacked was Mr. Potter?"

Lupin gave him a curious look and Severus started occluding. "Yes, but the identity of the student doesn't have a bearing in the matter."

"Is that why you didn't mention his name before?" Severus asked. "Hoping I would assign punishment before I found out it was Mr. Potter in question. You should leave the cunning to the cunning, Lupin. You're rather clumsy at it. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a student to deal with."

Lupin sighed. "If there is a dispute over who did what, the incident happened in front of the portrait of the Dancing Friars, I've already heard the tale. I can assure you though that the one who is solely responsible for this incident is standing behind you right now." He pulled out a wand and handed it to Severus gesturing towards Eckelson. "Goodnight Severus."

Severus bade him adieu with a sneer and closed the door. He turned on Eckelson.

"Sit," he commanded.

"Professor," Eckelson started.

"I do believe I told you to hold your tongue, now sit down," Severus said.

Eckelson sat in the wooden chair before Severus's desk and an incantation stuck the boy to the chair.

"I shall return after I have determined what damage you have done," Severus said. "Do try not to do anything else imbecilic before I return."

He strode to the fireplace and flooed to the infirmary.

He arrived in the hospital wing and his stomach clenched when he saw Harry. He was sitting on the side of the bed closest to the matron's office, and he had a far off look in his eyes and he did not look like he had noticed Severus's arrival, nor that he was very much aware of Madame Pomfrey's ministrations as she worked around the boy. Harry was shivering slightly, all over, and what he could see of the boy was covered in bruises and blood. Madame Pomfrey noticed his arrival.

"Unless this is an emergency, professor, you will have to wait, I am quite busy at the moment," Madame Pomfrey said. She tapped her wand on Harry's brow and a small gash sealed itself.

"Of course," Severus said. "I merely wanted to check on your patient, since I am tasked with disciplining his attacker. How are you faring Mr. Potter?"

Harry looked up at him as though he had just realized that Severus was there. He didn’t look like he’d heard Severus’s question. He opened his mouth as if to speak but no words came out. He looked down at his lap, looking angry at himself.

"How are you feeling?" Severus asked, gently.

Harry opened his mouth once more and then paused. He seemed to come back to himself, though he was still shivering. "I'm alright really. There's really no need to worry. I'm fine. You don't need to do anything for me. Madame Pomfrey's taken care of everything. It wasn't that bad at all."

Madame Pomfrey tutted. "Really Mr. Potter, of all the patients I have ever had. You'd probably say the same if your leg had been torn off by a troll." She turned to Severus. "A fractured orbital socket, broken nose, three cracked ribs, bruised kidneys, sprained elbow. We just took care of all that." She turned back to Harry and started spelling away bruises and cuts. "And you fought the Millé Des Aracnis Hex, didn't you? You've torn muscles and stressed tendons all over. Speaking of, Severus, could you get me a muscle relaxant and a deep tissue poultice?"

"Of course," Severus said, turning towards the hospital wing's supply cabinet. Distantly, he was aware that he was furious, but under the control of occlumency he was able to maintain a professional air.

"The Millé Des Aracnis Hex, you said?" Severus queried. That would be the compulsion spell Lupin had mentioned.

"Yes," Madame Pomfrey said. "Probably a good ten minutes, judging by the damage done. A good night's rest however should see him fully recovered though." She handed Harry the muscle relaxant which he looked at very warily. He gave Madame Pomfrey the same look before he steeled himself and drank it with a sick look on his face. The shivering stopped though and Harry looked visibly calmer after he took the potion.

"Alright Mr. Potter we'll apply the poultice and then a sleeping potion will make sure you get all the rest you need tonight," Madame Pomfrey said.

Harry looked visibly uncomfortable and Severus figured the boy didn't want to undress in front of him and decided to give the boy some privacy.

"Well," Severus said. "I have matters to take care of, get well soon Mr. Potter."

For a moment, Severus imagined that the boy looked like he was going to ask him to stay, but the moment passed and Harry mumbled out a 'goodnight professor.'

"Goodnight Harry," Severus said.

Harry just nodded, a worried look on his face. Severus wondered if Harry was anxious about taking the sleeping potion. Worried about another kidnaping or another attack. It wasn't right that he should have so much good reason to worry.

Severus left the infirmary and walked to the headmaster’s office. Eckelson could wait exactly where he was.

"Butterscotch Salamanders," Severus told the guardian Gargoyle.

He rode the spiral staircase to the top and knocked on the Headmaster's door.

"Come in Severus," the Headmaster said.

Severus walked in. "Eric Eckelson just attacked Harry. He used a compulsion spell and physically assaulted him causing extensive injuries. I am going to suspend him, and I need you to override me and expel him."

Severus had never seen such a look of surprise on the Headmaster's face, though it was soon replaced with a look of great concentration and concern. After a moment he asked, "will Harry be alright?"

"He will recover fully," Severus said. "But that does not belie the savage nature of the attack, nor the seriousness."

"I will not be expelling Mr. Eckelson," Albus said with a sigh.

"He attacked my son," Severus hissed.

"It pains me that Harry has once more been assaulted in this castle, but in this matter, disciplining Mr. Eckelson is your purview. For me to expel a student contrary to the decision of his head of house will raise many questions. This is a matter that would usually be handled with a suspension and a good many detentions. Unless I am mistaken, Mr. Eckelson has never been cited for violence before, and Harry has taken no long-term harm. It is best if we do not draw attention to ourselves by taking matters out of hand."

"Harry should be able to feel safe in this school," Severus said.

"Mr. Eckelson will be suspended," the headmaster said. "And when he returns, he will have more than enough detentions to keep himself occupied. He will not have time to bother anyone."

"And what if I did decide to expel Mr. Eckelson?" Severus asked.

"That would be within your purview as his head of house," Albus said. "However, it would also draw a lot of attention to your relationship with Harry. You have a cover to maintain. A cover that may someday be imperative to keeping Harry safe. We can impress on Mr. Eckelson that he is to stay away from Harry. We must also impress on those who are watching that whatever your relationship with Mr. Potter, it is not one that would drive you to take brash actions. Suspension is what would be expected. Suspension is what we must do."

"And if there was no threat?" Severus asked. "If I had no position to maintain, if the Dark Lord were truly gone?"

"There are very few people who I have met, Severus, who I have believed to be beyond hope," the Headmaster said. "I have been rewarded for having faith in people in the past and I am reluctant to dispose of people. I will address the school once more tomorrow on these werewolf rumors. We will make sure that Harry is safe once more in these halls."

"I will handle the matter," Severus said. "Tomorrow at breakfast. There's been enough of this nonsense. If you will excuse me headmaster, I have matters to attend to."

"Of course," the headmaster said. "I will see you in the morning Severus."

Severus nodded his head towards the headmaster and departed. He did not go back to his office yet though. He went to the Slytherin common room. "Nightfall," Severus said to gain entry.

"Mr. McDaniels," Severus said when he walked in. "Go pack up Eckelson's trunk. His clothes and his school supplies only."

McDaniels hesitated but gave a "yes, Professor," and left to the dormitory that they shared.

"Is Eric alright?" Flanagan asked.

"Mr. Eckelson is being suspended for attacking another student," Severus said. "He has shown himself to be a poor representative of our house and he is being removed from this school for the rest of term in the hopes that he will realize that savage violence is not cunning and that he should aspire to be more than a bully. I trust that no one here will ever need those lessons."

There were denials around the room. Severus spotted Draco and summoned him with a look. Draco approached him and Severus cast a privacy charm.

"Was it Potter?" Draco asked.

"What do you know?" Severus's eyes narrowed.

"Just that Eckelson cornered him yesterday," Draco said. "I intervened."

"We spoke of ending these werewolf rumors once and for all," Severus said.

"I also said that there was only so much I was willing to be nice to Potter," Draco said.

"Leadership isn't always fun," Severus said. "Eckelson has done damage to our house, we should not leave it to others to clean up his mess."

Draco sighed. "Silver test at breakfast?" he asked.

"Indeed," Severus said. "Spend this evening maneuvering. Your housemates do not need to like Mr. Potter to realize that what Mr. Eckelson did should not represent our house."

McDaniels returned with Eckelson's trunk.

"I think that's everything Professor," McDaniels said.

"It doesn't really matter, I suppose," Severus said. "Thank you for being expedient."

Severus nodded to Draco and left. He would be much happier when Eckelson was out of the castle. He would be much happier if he could sit with his son and tell him that everything was being taken care of.


IIIIIIIIIIIIII


Eric Eckelson was not supposed to have been suspended. Harry was not supposed to be in the Hospital Wing. While Harry would be out of the infirmary in the morning, Eckelson would remain out of the school, and his schedule drastically altered when he returned. Who knew what small change in the timing of the nights events had caused the two boys to cross paths, what truly mattered though was how the fallout would affect the future paths to be taken. Severus and Lily had crossed paths briefly over a decade ago, a chance encounter caused by a small deviation, and its effects had lead to a great change in the present.

Albus sat at his desk and pondered the future. His foreknowledge didn't give him a surety, but he could see the paths. He knew what conditions must be met to defeat Voldemort, that hadn't changed, but there were so many things that could go wrong now that the way was muddled. It was like trying to guide a piece of string though the eye of a needle with one's eyes closed. Eckelson certainly wasn't any part of his future plans, but he was still one of so many cogs moving things along.


IIIIIIIIIIIII


Harry woke up feeling rested, with none of the injuries he had had the night before. Several of his muscles felt a little tight though and he gingerly started stretching. The poultice that had been applied the night before had dried out and was crumbling all over. Harry doubted that he could have slept without the sleep potion. He hadn't thought he would be able to sleep at all the night before, even with the potion, he had been so strung up. Yet as he had lain awake after Madame Pomfrey had left he had felt it, his mothers protection. It had comforted him as his eyes which hadn't wanted to close moments before drifted shut. He started stretching the stiffness out of his muscles and was in a bit of an awkward position when he found out that he had company.

"You'll want to take it easy today," Professor Snape said from a chair next to his bedside. "Your newly healed muscles are going to be tense and more easily stressed."

"Professor," Harry said, quickly straightening himself out. "Um, good morning."

"Good morning Harry," Severus said.

"Um, Madame Pomfrey will probably be in to check on me soon…" Harry liked that the professor was there, but neither one of them had yet made a move to inform the matron of their relationship and she would probably find it odd for Professor Snape to be sitting by his bedside.

"Madame Pomfrey came to see me last night," Professor Snape said. "While updating your student file, she noticed a certain change in regards to your parentage. We can discuss that in a moment though, how are you feeling?"

"Nothing hurts," Harry said.

"Good," Professor Snape said with a nod. He seemed to reflect for a moment. "What happened last night should never have transpired."

"I'm sorry," Harry said quickly. "Really, I just, I couldn't figure a good way to escape, I said things I shouldn't have."

"The failing was not yours," Professor Snape said. "I've already heard the story from the portrait of the dancing friars."

"It's going to be all over school," Harry said with a sigh. "The portraits are all gossips."

"The portraits alerted Professor Lupin," Professor Snape said. "I must say you handled yourself as well as can be expected."

"I was useless," Harry said, looking down at his lap. He started absentmindedly picking at the crusted poultice.

"You faced an opponent with a great deal more experience and strength," Professor Snape said sternly. "Facing down mountain trolls doesn't mean you can face a competent wizard. As idiotic as Mr. Eckelson is, he is skilled with a wand, and he has many years more training than you do." He paused. "I very much want to expel him."

"Oh, no," Harry said. "That seems a bit extreme." He couldn't imagine life without Hogwarts.

"I said I want to," Professor Snape said. "He has been suspended, and he will be spending most of his free time in detention when he returns." He made very deliberate eye contact with Harry. "He attacked my son though, and I very much wanted to make sure that you never saw him again."

Harry felt ridiculously good hearing Professor Snape refer to him as his son. It made everything seem much more permanent.

"I'm going to let you go get cleaned up in a moment," Professor Snape said. "But I wanted to discuss an important matter with you."

"Okay," Harry said.

"You know what your mother suspected of me towards the end of the first war," Professor Snape said. Harry noticed for the first time that there was absolutely no sound that he could hear besides the two of them.

"The spying," Harry said.

Professor Snape nodded. "The Dark Lord is not gone, and far too many Death Eaters went free or are otherwise at large. It should also be no surprise to you that many of them bear you ill will. My position could still be useful in keeping you safe."

"You want to keep things a secret," Harry said.

"The headmaster and I have agreed that that would be best," Professor Snape said. "Eckelson would have been expelled otherwise. I still maintain contact with several former Death Eaters, and should the Dark Lord ever return, it will be imperative that we have information about his plans. If anyone were to question the relationship between us now, I can always say that I am building your trust in anticipation of using it one day to serve the Dark Lord. That would be a much harder sell if everyone knew that I am your father."

"No one else knows," Harry said. "No one you don't already know about."

"Are you alright with that?" Professor Snape asked.

Harry shrugged. Did that matter? "Whatever you think is best," Harry said.

"Right," Professor Snape said. "Well, you should go clean up. I expect Madam Pomfrey will let you out soon."

"I'll see you Professor," Harry said.

"Very soon, I should expect," Professor Snape said.

Harry went into the small bathroom that was attached to the infirmary and got into the shower. The dried poultice turned into a tacky paste under the spray and it took him a while to scrub it off. It gave him plenty of time to think about the conversation he had just had with Professor Snape. In part he was still mortified for the man to see him in the hospital wing again, for him to know how much trouble he always was. He was still shaken by the night before. He had felt so helpless. He had been completely at Eckelson's mercy, and the older boy had shown none. He had felt so out of control, so ineffective. Another part of him was still wrapped up in having Professor Snape waiting for him next to his hospital bed. He had called Harry his son, again. Harry let himself indulge in a fantasy where Professor Snape took him in, where he truly became Harry's father. Harry got out of the shower and returned to the Hospital Wing proper where Madame Pomfrey was waiting for him with Ron and Hermione.

"Well Mr. Potter," Madame Pomfrey said. Let's see if you have healed up enough to go back to classes."

"Okay," Harry said. He was eager as always to get out of the hospital wing, but he wasn't sure how eager he was to return to classes.

Madame Pomfrey ran several diagnostics before she allowed Harry to leave. Harry joined his friends and they left for the great hall. "You alright mate?" Ron asked.

"She wouldn't have let me out if I weren't." Harry said.

"I mean besides all that," Ron asked.

Harry shrugged. "I guess I wish I had another weekend right now just to not have to deal with the rest of the school for a bit. What are the rumors going around?"

"I just heard that you got beat up and were in the hospital wing," Ron said. "Of course, I already knew from when I went to tell Professor McGonagall you never came back from your class with Benjamin."

"You told on me?" Harry asked, aghast.

"I didn't tell on you," Ron said indignantly. "I told Professor McGonagall that my best friend, who's almost been murdered and kidnapped this year, on separate occasions mind, oh and who's got a life threatening medical condition that, what did it do, oh yeah, it's almost killed you a bunch this year, yeah, I told McGonagall that that friend was missing. Because these days my first thought is that you're going to be dead somewhere, not that you're breaking school rules and I should keep my mouth shut."

"You don't have to worry…" Harry started.

"I do have to, because if I didn't, I'd be a shite friend," Ron said. "None of it was your fault though so don't sweat it."

"How often do you think Harry's off dead somewhere?" Hermione asked.

Ron shrugged looking uncomfortable. "Don't make a thing out of it, Hermione," he said.

Harry felt guilty for worrying Ron. His whole life was a mess and it affected everyone around him. He always took a toll on others.

They got to the Great Hall and the topic of their conversation turned to more carefree matters. Harry played with the food on his plate for a while. They had arrived at breakfast halfway through the dining period but Harry couldn't summon up much urgency to eat.

The amplified noise of a spoon rapping against a goblet garnered the attention of the hall and the conversations died down. Professor Snape was standing at the head table and giving a level glare to the assembled students.

"Your scheduled lessons will be starting a bit late this morning," Professor Snape's voice bit out. "Do not worry, we will make up the time at the end of the school day. It seems though that we need a lesson right now about werewolves."

There was a murmuring among the students and a lot of people looked at Harry. Professor Snape proceeded to give a lecture that included many things about the moon cycle, the mountains in the East, the werewolf transformation, and the timing of the events that had occurred during the last full moon. The entire time, he oozed contempt. He didn't mention the attack on Harry, or the rumors, but everyone knew what he was talking about.

"Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Potter, if you could come up to the head table please."

Malfoy stood up, clearly not surprised to have been called. He strode confidently to stand before the head table in front of the four house tables. Harry though was a bit bewildered. He could sort of imagine why the professor wanted to include him, but he had no idea what Malfoy's part in this was. He got up too though, and went up to stand a couple paces away from Malfoy.

"Mr. Malfoy, would you be so good as to explain to your classmates how silver affects werewolves?"

"Certainly Professor," Malfoy said, and he had a practiced ease for making his voice carry without shouting or straining his voice. "Though I should hope that even the youngest among us knows that silver burns werewolves. Whether they are transformed or not."

"Do you happen to have a silver sickle on you, Mr. Malfoy?" Professor Snape asked.

"I believe I do, Professor," Malfoy said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver coin.

"Catch," Malfoy said to Harry, tossing the coin. Harry's fingers closed around it before he even thought about it.

"Do hold it up for everyone to see, Mr. Potter," Professor Snape said.

Harry held the silver sickle up between his thumb and forefinger, there was murmuring again among the students. Harry felt immensely self-conscious and tossed the coin back to Malfoy. He made a study of the flagstones.

"You may both return to your seats," Professor Snape told them. Harry made a quick getaway.

"Since there are also concerns about Polyjuice Potion, Mr. Potter's classmates may certainly observe him today to watch out for hidden flasks of potions being drunk every hour. If any of you still doubt Mr. Potter's word that he is not a werewolf, you can put your money where your mouth is," he held up a silver sickle. "Or you can keep it shut." He sat down.

Harry went and sat down between Ron and Hermione. The eyes of everyone, it seemed, were on him.

Harry turned to Fred and George, a few seats down the table. "Silver," he said. "You guys thought of wolfsbane, biting, and going starkers before you thought of silver."

"Well that wasn't exactly entertaining now was it?" Fred asked. Harry rolled his eyes. Everyone was still staring at him.

That was how it went for the rest of the day. For the most part. People either stared at him in the halls, or they studiously avoided looking at him. He amassed a few sickles during the day though, and he made sure not to go off alone or do anything that might make it look like he was sneaking a potion. He figured that everyone should be satisfied by the end of classes though. He went to see Professor Snape for dinner, he showed up under his invisibility cloak.

"Thanks," Harry said when he was inside Professor Snape's quarters. "Um, I think that thing worked this morning."

"I cannot abide such stupidity," Professor Snape said.

Harry smiled. "You put up with me, and I seem to recall crashing a car into a tree not too long ago," he said.

"There are exceptions to every rule," Professor Snape said. "Though I have noticed this year a sharp increase in the quality of your work."

"It's been worth the effort," Harry said.

"Where are you on your project?" Professor Snape asked.

"I've almost finished with all the charms I was planning to test," Harry said. "The write up is going to take a while though. I'm supposed to put in all these sources and stuff."

"Research isn't all glitz and glamor," Professor Snape said. "What would you like for dinner?"

"Um," Harry blanked. "Spaghetti and meatballs."

Professor Snape went over to a piece of parchment on his desk and wrote out their meal order. Having dinner with a professor had it's perks. Not that Harry had particularly craved spaghetti and meatballs, it was just the first thing that had come to mind.

Not a minute later, a big bowl of steaming pasta appeared on the dining table, along with pumpkin juice, rolls, and steamed vegetables. As he had taken to doing, Harry eyed the food as it was delivered magically, wondering what it would take for someone to slip something in undetected.

"I understand Professor McGonagall was asking for the names of those staying for the holidays," Professor Snape said. "I was wondering what your plans might be."

"Oh I'm staying here," Harry said. "I mean in the castle, not… I wasn't inviting myself or…"

"I was hoping you would join me," Professor Snape said. "Some time Christmas day. Throughout the holiday as well. There would be plenty of time to see each other, if you would be amenable."

"Really?" Harry asked.

Professor Snape nodded.

"That would be great," Harry said. "Thank you." A pause. "Any Slytherin Christmas traditions I should know about?"

"You mean after we drink snake venom and dance naked under the moonlight?" Professor Snape asked.

Harry snorted into his pumpkin juice and had to reach for his napkin.

"Well obviously," Harry said. "Everyone knows about that."

"Besides making sure no one in my house is spending the holiday holed up alone in their dorm," Professor Snape said. "I typically make my appearance at the holiday feast and then get dragged to the staff party."

"There's a staff party?" Harry asked. He had a hard time imagining any of his professor's partying.

"I have seen things that would shock you and your classmates," Professor Snape said. "And beyond that I'm afraid I am honor bound to say no more. What did you do last year for the holiday?"

"Oh, well…" Harry said. "I can't get in trouble for something that happened last year, right?"

"Is the Granger cat mystery about to be solved?" Professor Snape asked.

"Maybe," Harry said leadingly.

"Of course," Professor Snape said. "There are no statutes of limitations upon school infractions, however, if we were speaking purely hypothetically…"

"Then hypothetically I might have thought that Malfoy was the Heir of Slytherin and I might have also taken polyjuice potion Christmas day to impersonate one of his henchmen so I could trick him into admitting it."

"Where on earth did you get polyjuice potion?" Professor Snape asked.

"Well, hypothetically speaking," Harry said, "I am honor bound to say no more."

"Touché," Professor Snape said. A pause. "Miss Granger used a cat hair by mistake, didn't she?"

"Hypothetically speaking?" Harry asked.


IIIIIIIIIIIIIII


Harry was getting pretty excited for the holidays. Besides welcoming the time off from classes, the prospect of spending time with Professor Snape, like a real family, was simultaneously thrilling and daunting. On his way back to the tower though he ran into someone else who was thinking about the winter holidays.

"Hey," Sam Eldrich called out as they crossed paths. "Hi, Harry."

"Hey Sam," Harry greeted the younger Hufflepuff, who's hair was now past their shoulders.

"Can I ask you something?" asked Sam, who seeming a bit timid; which didn't really go with Sam's usual bubbly personality.

"Uh, yeah," Harry said, slowing down a bit so Sam could walk besides him. "What's up"

"Um, is it nice staying for the holidays?" Sam asked.

"In the castle?" Harry asked. "Yeah, it's nice. Are you and your brother staying over?"

Sam frowned. "No, I was just wondering 'cause I heard you stay over," Sam said. "Do you need permission from your family?"

"Oh, um, well my family's muggle so I don't think they get a say," Harry said. "I don't know how it would work with you."

"Oh," Sam said, looking thoughtful.

Harry worried at his lip for a moment. "Do you want to stay in the castle for the holidays?" he asked.

Sam nodded.

"Are any of your friends staying over?"

"I don't think so," Sam said

Harry thought for a moment before saying, "I stay in the castle because I don't want to go home."

"Really?" Sam asked.

"I don't tell a lot of people that," Harry said, with a bit of significance. "Do you not want to go home?"

Sam hesitated. "No, I don't."

"Alright," Harry said, feeling a bit of dread, because he really didn't know what he could really do. "Um, is something bad going to happen at home?"

Sam shrugged and looked down. "I just don't want to have to change everything."

"What's everything?" Harry asked.

"Everything," Sam said. "Like my hair. I like the way I look now. Dad's going to make me change everything." Sam tugged a lock of hair in a grip that seemed determined to hang on. Harry noticed that Sam's fingernails were painted a subtle shade of pink.

Harry stared for a moment and had to stop the first words that felt like coming out of his mouth, since asking someone if they were a boy or a girl seemed rude. Sam had had a buzz cut on the train when they had first met, and throughout the school year Sam's hair had gotten longer and longer, at a rate Harry suspected was not normal. Besides the boy’s uniform, looking at Sam now, Harry would think that they were a girl, and while he had known a couple of girls to wear slacks to Care of Magical Creatures he'd never known one to wear the boys uniform all the time.

"Your dad wants you to look like a boy?" Harry asked slowly.

"And act like a boy," Sam said. "And play with boy toys and stuff."

"But you're a girl," Harry said, trying very hard not to make that a question.

Sam frowned. "My friends in Hufflepuff said it was alright if I wanted to be one."

"Um," Harry said, really not sure what to say to that. A few choice words he had heard from the Dursleys and on the playground popped into his mind, but he couldn't imagine any of that applying to Sam. "So you wish you were a girl?" Harry asked.

"Nooo," Sam said slowly and hesitantly. "I feel like- I feel like I am a girl, or I was supposed to be. Only something got mixed up. Um… Justin told me not to tell that to anyone though, but I told my housemates."

"When, um- when did you start feeling like a girl?" Harry asked.

"Since forever," Sam said. "Or, well, maybe it just more felt like being a boy wasn't right, but now I know I feel like I was supposed to be a girl. I feel like someone transfigured me into a boy when I was born and everyone's been wrong this whole time."

Could that have happened? Would someone do that? But why else would Sam feel for so long that they were supposed to be different? Harry briefly wondered how he would feel if someone transfigured him into a girl. Would he suddenly feel different about himself? Harry didn't know, but Sam was clearly upset, and Harry felt that he was definitely out of his depths.

"What did your housemates say when you talked to them about it?" Harry asked.

Sam shrugged. "They said it was okay to feel like that, 'cause there's a million ways to be and everyone's different and that's okay."

Harry thought that was a nice sentiment but… "Okay, but have you talked to anyone who could, um, help?" Harry asked.

Sam shook her head.

"Right," Harry said, thinking.

"Should I talk to a professor?" Sam asked.

"Um.." Harry didn't know how he thought about bringing this to an adult. He could just imagine how the Dursleys would have reacted if Harry had ever gone up to them and told them he felt like he was supposed to be a girl. His first thought would be to go see Hermione, but as awesome as she was, Harry knew well enough that human transfiguration was a bit beyond her. Of course, there was Professor McGonagall, but Harry could imagine her thinking he was acting the fool if he went up to her and told her one of his schoolmates was really a girl. Harry supposed they'd need someone who would listen first.

"Do you think you could talk to your head of house about it?" Harry asked. She had always seemed nice enough to Harry, and besides, her house was the house that was supposed to take in everyone.

"What if she tells my dad?" Sam asked.

Harry shrugged. "You don't have to tell anyone if you don't want to," he said. "But I'm not really sure what else to do."

Sam frowned. "Will you come with me?" she asked.

Absent anything useful, Harry figured he could at least do that. "Yeah," Harry said. "You want to go now?"

Sam nodded. Harry had never had occasion to visit his Herbology professor outside of class, but Sam knew the way. They walked in silence for a bit and Harry was unused to the usually talkative Hufflepuff being quiet.

"So, um, Sam, do you fight with your brother about this stuff?" Harry asked.

"He doesn't like me being girly where others can see." Sam said. "Also, can you call me Sammy? It sounds better than Sam," Sammy said. "And it's a lot better than Samuel."

"Sammy," Harry said. "Okay, so, are you going to stay over Christmas?"

Sammy sighed. "I don't want to be alone for Christmas, and I'd miss Justin, and everyone would want to know why."

Harry nodded. He understood wanting to keep things private.

Professor Sprout’s office was downstairs and must have been somewhere near wherever the Hufflepuff dorms were. Harry thought he might be more nervous than Sammy who just went up and knocked on the door before sticking her head in.

"Can I talk to you now Professor Sprout?" Sammy asked.

"Of course you can dear, come in," Professor Sprout said. "Oh, and Mr. Potter as well, come in, come in."

Harry knew that they were below the ground floor but Professor Sprout's office was lined with great windows that showed the grounds of the school and let light in for a variety of potted plants that littered the room.

"Now what can I do for you two?" Professor Sprout asked once they had taken seats opposite her.

Sammy hesitated and looked at Harry. Harry was more than ready to abort and make something up to excuse their interruption without bringing Sammy's situation into it, but Sammy just came out with it. "I think I'm really a girl, Professor," she said rather abruptly and perhaps a few decibels louder than was necessary.

Professor Sprout went a bit wide eyed at the proclamation and Harry quickly stepped in.

"Sammy said that, um, she- that she's always felt like she was really a girl and that it was like someone had transfigured her to be a boy when she was little, and I thought maybe someone should check."

"Oh, of course," Professor Sprout said. She didn't look upset and Harry took that as a good sign. "Yes, I'd wondered about your hair, I should have asked. No, Mr. Potter, I doubt Miss Eldrich has been transfigured. Being transgender is much more likely. Though I am a bit out of my depth here; let's get Madame Pomfrey, why don't we."

Professor Sprout moved to her fireplace and started a floo call. Things were happening rather rapidly and Harry felt a bit nervous now that someone else was coming. He looked over to Sammy who was biting her lip, clearly nervous as well.

"She'll be over in just a moment," Professor Sprout said, coming back from the fireplace.

"What's transgender mean?" Sammy asked. It was exactly the question Harry had wanted to ask. He had heard Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia use words like transvestite or transexual when they would bemoan various peoples they thought were ruining Britain, always saying them like they were bad words, but he'd never heard transgender before.

"Oh, well, I suppose transgender means that someone is born with a gender that doesn't match their body," Professor Sprout said. "We occasionally have transgender students so don't worry about a thing dear."

Madame Pomfrey chose that moment to floo into the office.

"Good evening," she greeted. "Now what's brought me out of the hospital wing?"

"Well it would appear that Sam Eldrich is transgender," Professor Sprout explained. "She feels that she is really a girl."

"Is that so?" Madame Pomfrey asked.

Sammy nodded. "Being a boy's felt wrong for so long," she said. "I think I was supposed to be born a girl."

"Alright then," Madame Pomfrey said. "And what has brought Mr. Potter along?"

"Harry was the one who said I should talk to Professor Sprout about it," Sammy said.

"Well, I'm glad you did, you shouldn't have to feel that you must hide a part of who you are," Madame Pomfrey said. "Now, Miss Eldrich, the school is very happy to make accommodations to help you with your classmates and to refer to you with the name and pronouns of your choice if that is what you want. The bigger question now is whether or not you would like to make further living adjustments."

"What sort of adjustments," Sammy asked.

"Well," Madam Pomfrey said. "If you would like, you could sleep in the girls dorm, and use the girls' facilities, and, if you wish, we can use magic so that your body reflects your gender identity. Of course, none of these are things that need decisions right away, it’s okay to…"

"You can really make me a girl?" Sammy interjected excitedly.

"Well, some would say that if you feel that you are a girl, then you are a girl regardless of what your body looks like, but yes, we can change your body."

"That's great," Sammy said. "I want to do all of that. I've wanted to do all of that since forever."

"Very well," Madam Pomfrey said. "Now, for us to make those adjustments, the ministry requires that we perform a test, but that should only take a moment."

"What sort of test?" Harry asked, frowning. How was Sammy supposed to prove how she felt inside?

"Hmm?" Madam Pomfrey looked over at Harry as though she had forgotten that he was there and Harry was starting to feel rather unnecessary. The two adults were making everything seem rather less of a big deal than he had thought they would. "Well it's a bit similar to the charm that keeps boys out of the girl’s dormitory, Mr. Potter," Madam Pomfrey said. "Suffice it to say, we can tell with magic what someone's gender identity is. Of course, it isn't as simple as saying if someone is a boy or a girl. Gender isn't really two set states of being, rather it's more like a spectrum, but for our purposes here we'll just say that there is a charm that will tell us Miss Eldrich's gender."

Harry wasn't sure how some charm would tell them anything that Sammy hadn't told them already. Sammy looked happy, though, so Harry figured everything was going alright.

"When can we do it?" Sammy asked.

"We can perform the test right now if you would like," Madam Pomfrey said. "It is also alright if you would like to wait."

"Now's fine," Sammy said.

"Very well," Madame Pomfrey said. She pulled out her wand and a quick incantation later she was nodding her head and putting her wand away. "Now that that is out of the way," she said. "Professor Sprout will be able to handle matters with your dormitory and your classmates. I will talk to your other Professors to make sure that they call you Miss instead of Mister, and I can also handle transfiguring your body, but of course, I would understand if you would prefer Professor McGonagall to handle the matter."

"Professor McGonagall please," Sammy said.

"Very well," Madame Pomfrey said. "Let's see if she's available now." She went over to the fireplace to call in Harry's head of house.

Sammy flashed Harry a brilliant smile.

"Did you want us to write to your father to explain what's going on?" Professor Sprout asked.

"Oh," Sammy said, suddenly frowning. "No, that's okay, I'll write him." She hesitated then. "So, you don't need his permission?"

"Not at all," Madam Pomfrey said, returning from the fireplace. "It is your body, of course, so it is your decision. I have the right to make medical decisions for you while you are at school and if you wish your body to match your gender then I find it medically necessary to do so. Do you come from a muggle family Miss Eldrich?"

Sammy shook her head.

"I can provide you with your documented test results if you would like," Madame Pomfrey said. "He should understand, but if he has any questions you can tell him to owl me."

"Yes please," Sammy said. "And my brother too, I'll talk to him about it myself."

"As you like, dear," Professor Sprout said.

Professor McGonagall entered through the floo at that moment and Harry spared a moment to wish that he could floo throughout the castle whenever he wanted to.

"What do we have here?" she asked, taking in the crowded office.

"We were hoping to use your transfiguration expertise, Miss Eldrich is transgender," Madam Pomfrey said. Harry thought Sammy beamed a bit brighter every time one of the adults called her Miss.

"And you?" Professor McGonagall asked, looking at Harry.

"Oh," Harry said. "Um, moral support, I guess?" Not that Sammy looked like she needed it anymore. She just looked excited.

"Well Mr. Potter, this would be the part where you should step outside," Professor McGonagall said.

"Oh," Harry said. "Right. I'll just, um, be outside then."

Harry glanced to Sammy who gave him a wide toothy smile. He went and waited outside the door. A couple of Hufflepuffs passed by and looked at him askance before moving on. As he stood there, he ruminated. Sammy was clearly excited about everything, but he hadn't missed that Sammy hadn't wanted the school to talk to her dad or her brother. He'd already spent some time thinking about the Dursleys. He didn't need to wonder how they would react if he ever came home with a completely different body. Would a wizard handle things differently? Magic said it was so, so it must be? Would the knowledge that his son was really his daughter fix whatever was going on behind the scenes?

A short while later, a fair bit shorter than Harry thought could account for such a great change, the door opened and Harry went back in. Sammy looked elated. It appeared that Professor McGonagall had taken care of her outfit as well because Sammy was admiring her new school uniform, looking at herself in a mirror that had been placed on Professor Sprout's desk.

When Harry walked in, Sammy turned around and lunged at Harry, hugging him and saying, "thank you, thank you."

"Oh, um, your welcome," Harry said. "So you're happy with everything?"

"Yes," Sammy said. "I'm so happy about everything. This is great."

Harry smiled.

"Well that should be ten points for Gryffindor for helping a younger student," Professor Sprout said. "Now Mr. Potter, if you will excuse us, we're going to have some girl talk and then we'll re-introduce Miss Eldrich to her housemates."

"Oh, okay," Harry said. "Good luck Sammy."

"Curfew will be soon upon us, Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall said. "Perhaps it would be best if you flooed with me to my office and made your way from there. It would not do to lose the points you just earned."

"Thanks professor," Harry said. He wasn't going to tell her that he was pretty sure he could make it there in time using the twin's invention.

They flooed into her office and Harry brushed himself off and headed for the door.

"Thanks for letting me use the floo, professor," Harry said.

"Looking out for the younger students is something we look for when we choose prefects, Mr. Potter. Keep up the good work."

"Haven't I been in too much trouble to be a prefect?"

"Mr. Potter, I nominated your father for Head Boy," Professor McGonagall said. "Nothing is impossible. Though you could certainly do with a bit less trouble. There is a fair bit of time until your fifth year."

"We'll see professor," Harry said.

"Have a good night Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall said.

"Good night professor," Harry said.

Harry left her office and made it to the dorm with minutes to spare. All in all, it had been a good day. Professor Snape had cleared things up with the werewolf nonsense, they'd had a nice dinner together and made plans for Christmas, and Harry was glad he had been able to help Sammy. He just hoped things went well when she went home. He remembered what Ron had said about the leeway parents in the wizarding world had, but there was nothing Harry could do about that.


IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII


"I'm close," Peter said.

"You're always close," Greyback snarled.

"Just one more ward to piece through, I promise, I'm almost there," Peter assured.

"You had better be," Greyback spat. "I've been keeping watch over you on that map of mine. Start talking."

Peter was scraping the barrel. He started out telling Greyback about the recent attack before moving on to Harry's favorite foods. The thing was, he was no closer to breaking through the wards than he ever had been. But he was so close to being rid of Greyback.