The sun was shining, and a golden streak in the sky suddenly attracted his attention. The Snitch! Bent over the handle of his broom, he accelerated to the Firebolt's maximum speed; he could feel the wind in his hair and hear the roar from the stands as the Seeker of the opposite team tried to catch up to him. But it was too late; Harry was already reaching out a hand to capture the Snitch, his fingers closing around the precious object. Letting loose a shout of triumph, Harry raised his fist to the sky, before being joined by the rest of the ecstatic team.

Ron was laughing, his face red from shouting, and Ginny grabbed Harry around the neck, almost making him fall from his broom. The twins were there too, pounding him hard on the back. He could see Dumbledore and McGonagall in the grandstand, clapping enthusiastically. They'd just won back the Quidditch Cup!

The Gryffindors were exultant…but not only them; in the staff grandstand, Harry would see Snape, who'd stood up suddenly to salute his victory, and was applauding—certainly with more restraint, but with as much enthusiasm as the others, his eyes seeking out Harry's.

'Well-played,' Harry could read in them. Never had victory been so sweet; when had he ever had a parent there to congratulate him after a match? He returned the professor's smile and was ready to join him, when he saw Snape's face tense in fright. His hand moved to grip his left forearm, just over the Dark Mark. And under Harry's horrified eyes, Snape slowly began to fade away, his features twisting, his cry muffled by the noise of the crowd.

Harry wanted to run to him, but he couldn't extricate himself from the crush of his teammates. And no one seemed to notice that Snape had just disappeared! But everything suddenly became very calm, he observed, or rather very silent. The sky had suddenly changed to orange, and the people in the grandstands were immobile. He turned to look for Ron, and encountered his empty eyes, his much too pale face, just like everyone else around him. No, they weren't pale, they were dead, he realized in horror as he grabbed at Ginny's lifeless head, which had rolled onto his shoulder. Their haunted faces were turned toward him, but their eyes were slowly sinking into their sockets, while their cheeks caved in, their bodies slumping like rag dolls.

Snape, he had to find Snape—he'd know what to do! He couldn't let them die! He was at Hogwarts, bloody hell! But that wasn't entirely true, he realized; he was simply in the middle of a field of smoking ruins that had been Hogwarts…and bodies everywhere.

Snape, Severus, he had to come back, he would know… In front of him, from behind a curtain of smoke, a figure slowly came forward. He knew it well, he'd so often seen him in his dreams….

"Dad, please, I need help, help me to find him!"

"It'll be all right, Harry."

He was having difficulty coming closer, as if he were walking through thick mud.

"Dad, help me!"He couldn't make out his features, but the figure was so comforting that he had no doubt as to its identity.

"Harry, everything's all right, you're safe."

The gentle voice never failed to calm him, and he felt his body relax. The hand resting on his forehead was just as familiar, and Harry felt the nightmare lose its hold on him. With a deep breath, he half-opened his eyes.

Snape. He was at the Manor. Safe, yes, and not all alone.

Before he had time to thank the wizard, he fell back to sleep, a smile on his lips, his forehead pressed against the welcoming shoulder.

***

The first sensation that accosted him upon awakening was the familiar odor—a mixture of spices, the cloth of sheets, and gentle breathing. A comforting smell that was without a doubt tied to the Potions master.

Harry finally decided to open his eyes, and suddenly forgot to breathe: Merlin, he'd fallen asleep in Snape's arms!

Once again, he didn't remember having climbed the stairs to go to bed, and bloody hell, it was already embarrassing, to think that the professor had carried him there.

Wait a second. Embarrassing? As he thought of it…yes, a little. All the same, he was sixteen, he was a good dozen years past the age of being carried to bed! Not that anyone had ever carried him to bed, obviously, but now that he thought of it, there was nothing in any way appealing about being carried to a cupboard either…

On the other hand, the idea that Snape had done it…was a good one. Pleasant, like a cup of hot chocolate by the fire in winter.

As for falling asleep with Snape at his side…the professor was half-seated on the bed, with an arm around his shoulders, as if he'd comforted him in the middle of a nightmare.

Oh. The nightmare. Severus had probably come to him then, just like he'd most likely done on all those other nights. He'd never before stayed until morning, though.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he turned slightly to try and see the Potions master's face without awakening him. One look at his drawn features was enough for Harry to understand. Snape had simply fallen asleep, exhausted, and hadn't had the chance to make it to his own room.

He seemed almost vulnerable this way, without his usual mask of impassivity. Less of a spy, and more of a wizard…but the spy didn't delay taking the upper hand again. Feeling himself being watched, Severus abruptly opened his eyes, meeting the green ones that haunted his dreams.

"Sleep well?" he asked with the most natural nonchalance he could muster. What the devil was he doing in Harry's room? Merlin, he must've fallen asleep when he'd come to comfort the boy in the middle of the night… A night's sleep spent partially seated on a bed, holding a teenager in his arms, was probably the last thing he needed, but at the very least, Harry seemed rested. Hopefully the teenager wouldn't be too embarrassed by the situation.

"I...I think so, yes," the boy replied, without making any attempt to move. Severus held back a smile. No, Harry didn't appear to have any objections about being comforted. After all, he'd spent more than one night sleeping in his lap as a cat, without taking into account all the times Severus had carried him in his arms. But all the same…

"You had a nightmare last night," he felt obligated to explain. "I'm afraid I dozed off a bit after awakening you…"

"Dozed off a bit?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow in a perfect imitation of the Potions master.

"Dismally collapsed," Snape conceded with a slight smile.

The boy laughed soundlessly, but looked at him with a guilty expression. "I'm sorry I disturbed you. I forgot to cast a Silencing Charm on my room last night."

The professor shook his head. "Harry…you don't have to do that. It's unnecessary and uncalled for. I have my own alarms on this room, which awaken me each time your sleep becomes agitated."

The boy's eyes widened. "Why?"

Snape looked down at him indulgently. "So you don't face your nightmares alone," he answered.

"Why?" the boy repeated, dumbfounded.

Because that's what parents do, Snape would've liked to reply…but no, this wasn't the moment. Not yet.

"So that they'll stop. I'd like you to feel safe here; I'm here to watch over you, Harry, day and night.

"But I'm not really in danger," the boy protested. "You don't need…you should rest, that's really more important, Professor. I've always had nightmares, they're not important."

"Very much to the contrary," Snape said as he stretched slightly.

Realizing that he was still leaning against the professor, Harry sat up quickly as he blushed.

"It's important that you sleep well, so you can regain your strength. A good breakfast won't hurt either, if you feel up to it," Snape suggested.

Harry jumped from the bed. "I'll take care of that. Take your time, I'll take care of everything!"

Severus grimaced as he took his turn to get up. A long hot shower certainly wouldn't do any harm… "Perfect, nothing like being waited on to start the day right. You can go check in the laboratory, in case Albus has sent food, and start by taking your potions," he said with a wave toward the nightstand.

The boy obeyed, his movements quick and nimble. At least he'd been able to get a good night's sleep, Severus thought. As for himself, he couldn't say as much; his stiff muscles creaked like an old door, and he felt as if his vertebra were knocking together with each and every step he took.

Merlin, he wasn't even forty. Hiding his stiff walk the best he could, he made as dignified an exit as possible. "Try not to burn anything. I'll be back in a quarter of an hour."

The boy smiled happily, and Severus caught himself feeling more lighthearted. Harry really had a frightening ability to make him smile, and render dramatic situations almost normal…

He was going to have to be careful after their return to Hogwarts; it was a matter of his reputation at stake…

A shower and about ten potions later, Severus felt less achy, and ready to face a new day. Harry was bustling about in the dining room, obviously determined to impress him when he'd appear.

"A fruit salad?" Severus asked, raising a questioning eyebrow.

"It's full of vitamins," the boy explained enthusiastically. "Dumbledore sent a basketful of fruits and vegetables; there's enough to last a week!"

"I'll don't think we'll need that much time," Snape said as he sat.

"Oh." The boy seemed almost disappointed.

"Later we'll work on your transformations. How are you feeling this morning?"

"Much better. It did me good to sleep, even if that nightmare was really scary."

"What did you dream, Harry, if that's not too indiscreet?" Snape asked.

The boy hesitated for an instant. "Can Voldemort summon you? I mean, through the Mark, he can't force you to go?"

"No," Snape confirmed. "He can only send a signal. I must place my hand on the Mark and desire to respond for it to work, much the same as a Portkey."

Harry nodded. "That's what it seemed like. But dreams don't always make sense…"

"Is that what you dreamt, Harry?" Snape asked gently. "About Voldemort summoning me?"

"More or less. At the beginning, it was a simple Quidditch match; I'd just caught the Snitch, Gryffindor had won the Cup, and everything was really perfect. But when I looked in your direction, I saw you holding your arm, and then you disappeared." He shuddered.

"And afterward?"

"Afterward…everything changed. It wasn't the same place anymore, it was all in ruins, and everyone was dead. I wanted to save them, but I didn't know how. I was hoping you could do something, so I was looking for you…"

…and his father had come to his rescue. But that really wasn't the sort of thing he wanted to tell Snape…not now that they were getting on so well. The memory of James could only come between them.

Harry swallowed hard. "And that's the moment when I woke up."

"I see," Snape said thoughtfully. "It would seem that you're still very anxious over all that's happened. That's entirely normal, and that's why I don't want you to cast a Silencing Charm on your room, Harry. The nightmares will come to an end much sooner if you don't let them go too far."

"And if someone reassures me when I wake up," the boy agreed. "Thanks, Professor. Really."

Snape thought about reminding Harry to call him by his first name, but it clearly wasn't the moment.

"No one's ever done that before, at least that I can remember," Harry went on, looking him straight in the eye, even if his cheeks were slightly flushed. Severus could only be gratified by his effort. "Maybe that's why I still have them."

The professor gravely nodded his head. "Nightmares are more destructive than they seem. It's important for you to face them as calmly as possible. Never hesitate to talk to me about them, and for my part, I promise to be there when you awaken, whenever possible."

At the troubled look the boy gave him, Severus knew that his words had disturbed him, but he didn't give him time to dwell on them. "Excellent meal," he began. "Which brings us to a suggestion I made several weeks ago, concerning your Potions marks."

He could almost picture Shadow's ears perking up at his words. "What would you think about helping me this morning with potions? That would allow me to evaluate your competency, and revise your mark."

"Really? I mean, sure, but is that still possible?" Harry asked eagerly.

"Excellent question, Potter. Let's think about that. Will Dumbledore agree to let me raise the Boy Who Lived's mark at the last minute? Hmmm, surely deserves some reflection. At least ten seconds, in any case, the time it takes to offer me a sherbet lemon," the professor quipped ironically.

Harry couldn't help but laugh as he imagined the scene. How could life be so totally dramatic one day, then so lighthearted the next?

Snape, he decided, or rather, Severus. He had to get used to that…or was it just the fact that someone was taking care of him—not only his health and wellbeing, but also his future?

Whatever, it was definitely thanks to the Potions master, who was leading him down to the laboratory, after having cleaned and put away the dishes with an expert flick of his wand.

Preparing a potion was definitely easier when one wasn't on their guard, Harry decided after several hours of work. The peaceful atmosphere in the dungeons helped him to concentrate, and Snape's instructions, stripped of his sarcasm and menacing tone, were completely clear and understandable.

When Severus finally leant in over his cauldron and nodded his head, saying, "Good work," Harry felt a heavier weight than he would've imagined leave his shoulders.

"Enough to raise my mark?" he asked eagerly.

Snape lifted an ironic eyebrow. "Exceeds Expectation, shall we say?"

Harry felt his heart pound. "Thanks, Professor. Severus."

At these words, he saw the ends of Snape's mouth lift slightly. "This potion is correct, but I'll expect nothing less in my class this year, understood?"

"Understood. And same for the cooking," Harry added.

"You do realize that constitutes contributing to the corruption of a professor?" Snape groaned as he poured the potion into a phial.

"And that's before you're tasted my chocolate soufflé," the boy said, upping the ante.

"Bad choice, Potter, I've never been fond of sweets."

"Oh…I suppose I should've guessed. Let me see…liqueurs?"

"I don't approve of strong drink, nor of their use in cooking," Snape replied.

"You really have a character flaw there!" Harry protested, who would've given anything for some Chocolate Frogs. "Ice cream? No, that's sugared….spices? Asian dishes?"

"I have a weakness for coffee," Severus finally confessed reluctantly.

"Coffee. Drinkable?"

"In all its forms, actually," Snape muttered as he put away the last phials.

"That doesn’t leave many possibilities," Harry said thoughtfully. "Coffee ice cream…white coffee, cream with coffee, coffee pudding…"

"Coffee poisoning?" the Potions master suggested. "Good, that's enough for this morning. I'd like to check out the park before starting training exercises there. Perhaps a good chance for you to change and go get your broom. You might have need of it."

"I'm going to fly?" Harry asked enthusiastically as he took off for the stairway. "Oh, is there anything else I'll need?"

"Perhaps a good shower," Snape said, amused. "You don't realize it in your human form, but potions vapors adhere to skin and hair, and a simple Tergeo isn't enough to get rid of them. You'll be much more sensitive to them in your cat form."

"Oh," Harry said as he ran a hand through his hair. "That explains why…."

He stopped, blushing furiously. It probably wasn't the time to make a comment about Snape's hair, when the man was in such a good mood…

But the Potions master laughed soundlessly. "Hurry and go up, before I decide to experiment with a new shampoo formula, rather than taking my cat out for a walk."

Harry didn't wait to be told twice, then took the stairs four at a time.

Flying! He was going to fly! Just like in his dream, he realized. The idea dampened his enthusiasm slightly. Was that why Snape had asked him to bring his broom? The professor wanted to help him, of course, but his methods were sometimes a bit harsh.

Rummaging in his trunk, he took out the broom that'd out of necessity been shrunken for travel. What mattered was that he trusted Snape, and the prospect of flying erased all of his fears.

He was about to shut the trunk again, when he noticed the cask on the table. Snape had probably set it there the evening before. He stroked the wood with the palm of his hand, hesitant to open it. No, not now; he'd look at it this evening, when he'd be able to take his time. But he had to go back to Hogwarts in two days…

He could take the box with him, of course; Severus had made it clear that it was his, but it seemed to him that the cask belonged in this place. And it seemed especially at home in this room…his room.

Because that's truly what Snape had called it, wasn't it? His room. His room. He glanced around it, a slight smile on his face. It wasn't large, but certainly of a suitable size, moderately but adequately furnished. And he could decorate it as he pleased, if he decided to come back…

His very first room, he thought, because the one the Dursleys had finally given him had never really stopped being Dudley's.  And the bars on the windows hadn't been all that friendly…

He hadn't left anything there; the Dursleys would've burned it. But here? He could not only leave the box and be sure of finding it again, but all that he wouldn't need during the year as well! His trunk was so loaded down with old things that it barely closed.

But when? Harry's face darkened. Was he really coming back here? Snape truly seemed to want him to, but there was nothing to say that he still wouldn't change his mind about Harry. After all, he'd already done that before. Just a few weeks ago, the professor would've probably thrown him out of the Manor, head first.

No, it was best to take advantage of the present moment and not count on anything further. It'd only be a bigger disappointment, and Snape had already done so much for him. Harry certainly didn't have the right to be upset with him if he turned away again.

Harry went to the window and pushed the curtain aside. At the edge of the woods, he could see the dark silhouette of the Potions master, wand in hand, as he methodically paced in an inspection of the park.

He couldn't help but smile. Yes, he was going to make the best of these days while he could, and do all he could not to alienate Snape when they returned to Hogwarts.

Suddenly in a hurry to join the professor, he opened the window and slipped outside, his broom in his hand.

It felt good to run, and it was even better to see Snape turn a calm face toward him.

"Do you feel up to a training session? No aching, pain in your bones, or dizziness?" he asked as he examined the boy with his expert eye.

"In top form," Harry confirmed, a bit out of breath from his run. He really needed to get back in shape before time for Quidditch matches.

"The park seems secure, the wards are fully in place. I'd prefer, however, if you don't go too far, especially in the air. Don't fly higher than the Manor roof. Content yourself with sticking to the grass as well, and don't venture into the woods. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Mother," said the boy with a grimace. A slight silence passed between them, then was quickly broken.

"Do you really want me to fly? Oh, I've not brought my broom back to size; I thought it'd be best if I didn't do any more magic than necessary, in case, you know, the Ministry decree…

"No longer applies to you," Snape answered. "After all that's happened this summer, it was impossible to enforce it. Each of your Animagus transformations is an act of magic, you realize."

Harry paled considerably. "Am I going to be in trouble?"

Snape sighed. "No, not this time. It would appear that the Ministry has agreed to look the other way on this decree so far as you're concerned, in even-numbered years."

Harry looked at him blankly.

"Dumbledore has arranged for them to forget about you this summer, by reason of exceptional circumstances," he translated. "But be that as it may, today is the start of term, and so the decree no longer applies. You have no worries there."

"But I've not gone back to Hogwarts," the boy objected. "Does the Ministry know that as well?"

"Don't forget that Dumbledore is now your legal guardian," Snape said softly.

Harry shuddered at the idea.

"Does that present a problem?" the professor hastened to ask him.

"I don't know…" Harry confessed. "It's rather ungrateful on my part, I suppose, but I don't like the idea. I know Dumbledore was trying to protect me from the beginning, but…I don't really know. I suppose it makes me feel uncomfortable."

"Nothing surprising about that," Snape agreed. "You didn't have any say in this change in guardianship, and after what happened this summer, your reaction is completely understandable. Keep in mind that the Headmaster has promised not to abuse his new role in order to interfere any more in your life than you want, Harry. I hope you don't hold what you suffered at Malfoy's hands against him?"

Harry shook his head. "No, of course I don't. But in a way, that's what's making things so unpleasant. On one hand, Dumbledore will keep his distance, and it's rather good like that. On the other…that doesn't give me any more of a chance of having a family than being kept by the Dursleys did."

The last sentence had slipped from his lips so quickly that he wasn't entirely sure of having said it. But seeing the troubled look that Snape gave him, there was no doubt…  The Potions master opened his mouth to say something, before closing it again, then opened it once more.

It would appear that Harry's declaration had thrown him off balance. "Is that important to you, Harry?" he asked all of a sudden.

The boy shrugged. He wasn't six years old anymore, and with the war on the horizon, it certainly wasn't the time to play the unhappy orphan.

"Not really. I've never had one anyway. Can I go fly, Professor?"

Snape studied him for a long moment, before nodding his head. "Stay within the limits I set for you. Take to the sky, let off as much steam as you need to. Clear your mind.  After that, I'd like you to do some relaxation exercises. I'll stay here to watch; try to remain within my line of sight."

With a quick motion of his wand, he brought the broom back to its original size, then nodded at the boy, who took off precipitously.

A bit too much for Snape's liking…  This wasn't the time for him to break his neck, by Merlin; he'd not yet fully recovered from his recent wounds, and there he was, performing aerobatics. Wand in his fist, Severus watched the boy nervously, ready to rescue him from a free-fall. Harry'd done well to accuse him of acting like…like a mother. Oh, bloody hell.

He'd been left speechless by the boy's confession about wanting a family. That was one thing he'd been wrong about after all. Harry truly needed someone. But more than just someone, he wanted what every child needed—a family. And what could Snape offer him in that regard? Surely not his paltry experience, nor those fatherly qualities he'd never possessed.

He could take care of him, yes, but Harry needed much more than that. Much more than he could offer him. Once again, there was a tugging at his heartstrings. Regret? Bitterness? Probably one of these sentiments that he'd never tried to suss out, which had come to beset him when he'd let a cat and a boy enter into his life.

He'd have to deal with it. Yes, he'd face what was to come in due time. And whatever happened, he'd do his best for Harry, and to hell with the rest. He'd done his best for Lily, after all.

When Harry finally landed, he was pink and out of breath, but wearing a big smile. "I've really missed that!" he said as he stretched. "I'm anxious to get back into the matches, if Dumbledore lifts the ban on me, of course."

"I doubt that'll be a problem," Snape replied. "Do you feel ready for a bit of meditation?"

Harry nodded, and they began to walk toward the clearing where they'd practiced the exercises before.

"Professor, I was thinking of Sirius' house again. Professor Dumbledore wrote to tell me I'd inherited, but I don't know what I should do with it. Does that create a problem with the Fidelius?"

"No, not at all. Albus is the Secret-Keeper, so the Order members will always be able to go there. On the other hand, the wards and the house-elves will recognize you as their new owner."

"Kreacher? Certainly not! At least…does that give me the right to cut off his head and stick it up on the wall?" the boy grumbled.

"Certainly," Severus said calmly. "As well as torturing him to death or ordering him to kill himself."

He saw Harry shiver despite the heat.

"But I'd advise you to send him to Hogwarts to work in the kitchens instead."

"Yeah, I suppose," the boy murmured. "I don't want the house either. I could maybe give it to Dumbledore; that'd be fairly simple."

"It was your godfather's house, Harry. It seems to me that the two of you got on rather well?" Snape asked gently.

"Sirius hated that place. He was always unhappy there, you know that."

A moment of silence lengthened between them at the memory of the many arguments that the two wizards had had at Order headquarters.

"Wait a while before making a decision," Snape finally advised. "Nothing obliges you to go there, and you'll be happy to have it later on, perhaps. Set it to the side, focus on what's important right now.

Harry nodded. It was true—the house could wait, but Sirius…Sirius was important. He had far too many questions to resolve, so far as his godfather was concerned. Nothing that he could ask Snape, though.

Starting with what Sirius would've thought of Harry's new relationship with his worst enemy. Oh, Merlin. He probably would've never forgiven him.

Without thinking, he looked up at the professor walking at by his side, and met his dark, calm eyes.

"Don't dwell on it too much, Harry.  Especially if there's nothing you can do about it."

And as strange as that seemed, Harry realized as he nodded that he could to that. It was beautiful weather, Snape was with him, and he'd just finished flying. He'd have time to think about all of that later. Or if possible, not to think of it at all…

Emptying his mind to meditate was easier than he would've thought. The transformation exercise, on the other hand…

"Ready, Harry?" Snape asked when Harry'd stood again after the meditation exercise.

"I hope so. Shadow, then?" the boy asked nervously.

"Yes, but this time try to keep your mind on something that isn't part of your cat life. You think you can do that?"

Think of Snape, but a different Snape…the one who shouted at him at Hogwarts, perhaps. No, that wouldn't work. Perhaps simply the one who came to comfort him in the middle of the night.

Focusing on an image of the bedchamber, Harry put all his will into taking his cat form. An instant afterward, he was standing on four paws, facing Snape, slightly confused.

Snape. The nightmare. The bedchamber. Pictures of the sweater and the fireplace flitted through his mind, but he pushed them away. There was no way he was mistaking himself for a cat this time!

When he looked up at Snape again, he was just about certain of having mastered his form and its personality, but he wasn't any less grateful to the professor for his neutral and attentive expression.

The cat let out a short meow as it sat.

"Harry?' the Potions master tried.

Another meow answered him, and Snape felt relief spread through him. It wasn't totally a lost cause, after all.

"Can you transform back again?" he asked the cat.

For a long moment, the cat sat there, looking at him, his green eyes focused on Snape's own. He could almost see the thoughts tangling in the cat's head. Finally, the cat was replaced by a frowning teenage, obviously upset.

"The return seemed to take longer this time," Snape commented.

"Yeah," the boy admitted. "It was harder to find the mechanism to make it work the other direction. It wasn't too difficult, but I'm afraid it'd be more complicated if I transform involuntarily. It took me a moment to get ready and get my thoughts straight after changing form."

"It's bothersome, but all the same encouraging. Take some time to relax, and we'll begin again, this time for a litter longer. Were you completely aware of who you were?" the professor asked.

"At the end, yes. But I have the impression that Shadow's only waiting to push to the front, if I give him the chance."

"No fish at meals, then," Snape said in an attempt to lighten the mood. "And stop disassociating your two forms, Harry. The way you see things as a cat is no less a part of you. The expectations, desires and fears that you experience as Shadow are your own as well. Accept that."

But what did Shadow really want? the boy wondered. Fish, of course. The peacefulness of the dungeons, the warmth of the fire, Severus' presence. A home…someone…peace.

But what Shadow managed to achieve so easily, Harry couldn't, or at least he couldn't resolve to. Snape had told him that he'd always be there, but until when? He'd offered him a place to stay, but he could just as well move away at any moment, whatever he said.

As for peace…like all the rest of it, he should earn it.

Yes, he wanted the same thing as Shadow. But the cat hadn't had to struggle to have it, and that would make all the difference.

He confusedly felt his body slip into a more comfortable skin, but before he was able to finish the transformation, a shout attracted his attention.

"Harry!"

He jumped, staggering on his feet, and looked at the Potions master.

"Harry, are you all right?"

His vision blurry, he stared at the professor's tense face. "I think so. Just a moment of…fuzziness," he finally replied.

"To say the least…is there something you'd like to talk about?"

Snape's voice was sincere, his eyes tinged with worry. And just because of this little incident… Yes, it was worth being Harry, and not Shadow.

He shook his head. "No, not for now anyway. It's still a bit confused at times. I still need to train, I think."

"Go and walk a bit. I'll stay here," Snape told him. "My offer stands at any time, Harry. You need to talk. It's important."

As the boy walked away, Severus, in one of those rare moments in life, did something he'd neither foreseen, nor calculated, and even less, anticipated.

"Harry?" he repeated. The boy turned back, a questioning look on his face.

"You are important," Snape said, his voice neutral, but his eyes intense.

For an instant, he saw a streak of pain pass through the boy's eyes, and he wondered if he'd made a mistake. Since when had spontaneity been a worthwhile solution, by Merlin?

Then Harry smiled weakly, but something in his expression made him seem younger, and Severus felt strangely happy at the sight. With a gesture of his head, he signaled for him to go on, and the boy took off again, he steps a little uncertain.

The afternoon passed more quickly than they would've thought.

When suppertime arrived, Harry felt exhausted and mildly anxious. On the whole, his transformations had turned out well, and Snape's exercises had proved helpful, but if the same thing happened in different circumstances? Harry wasn't certain of the outcome.

"Are you sure Ron and Hermione will be able to come?" he asked as they tucked in to the roast Harry'd carefully prepared with his own hands.

"Everything's arranged; you have nothing to worry about. They'll wait for you in my office. If there's the slightest problem, I won't be long."

"I'm returning directly to the Manor, I know," Harry said. "I realize I don't have any reason to worry, but the idea of going back to Hogwarts is a bit…strange."

"Everything will turn out fine. You just need to pace yourself," Snape reassured him. "And in any case, it's only a matter of an hour or two, and we'll be back at the Manor. You're still not ready to start classes again, and I'm aware of that."

"Honestly, Professor…I feel good," the boy admitted. "I really don't want to, but I'm ready to go back to Hogwarts. It's just cowardice."

"Have you ever felt apprehensive at the idea of going back to school before?"

Harry shook his head.

"Well, then you're not ready," Snape concluded. "The fact that you're on your feet and can manage to control your transformations doesn't mean that everything's fine. After what's happened this summer, no one would consider you a coward, Harry."

"But they don't really know all that's happened, isn't that right?"

"Since when has what others think become so important to you?" the Potions master retorted.

"But it always has! I don't have the right to make a mistake, no right to disappoint them, ever since I set foot in Hogwarts. You're in a position to know it very well. I hate that…but I can't ignore it."

Snape sat silently for a moment, thoughtful. "In a sense, I understand, and I can respect that. I suppose it's far from the arrogance I so long attributed to you."

Harry couldn’t' help but shoot him a dark look.

"I suppose one must acknowledge his mistakes from time to tome. And that was one of them, an extremely crude one. I allowed my judgment to be clouded by prejudices that didn't concern you. For a spy, that's a grave shortcoming."

Harry looked away and shrugged, ill-at-ease. "You've already apologized, so that's not necessary. Everyone does the same thing anyway."

Snape's lips thinned. "All the more reason not to pay attention to what others think, Harry. It's the best way of allowing yourself to be thrown off-balance."

But clearly, if wasn't as if the boy had ever had a stable life, or a positive opinion of himself. No one had taken the trouble to give him one either, and in view of his family's behavior, this fragility in the face of what others thought was, all in all, entirely natural.

Severus sighed. He had a long way to go if he wanted to help the boy effectively.

"It's easy for you to say—everyone respects you," Harry said at last.

"Respects me? The infamous professor, ex-Death Eater, the Potions master with the greasy hair?  They respect my talents, at most. But more commonly, they fear me, which doesn't have much to do with respect," Snape replied.

"That's not true! The Slytherins thing you're a god…"

A bitter snigger answered him. "I'll be curious to see how my dear Slytherins welcome their god after his fall from darkness. Their respect, such as it is, is but a reflection of my position with Voldemort. A goodly number of my students are children of Death Eaters, or sympathizers, Harry. I think you'll find their notion of respect for me strikingly changed this year."

The boy swallowed with difficulty. "I'm sorry. I hadn't thought… That'll turn out rather hard, hmm?"

Snape gave him a small, sly smile. "Probably. But after having spent the summer with a Gryffindor, I suppose I'm ready to face anything."

"Even what other people think," Harry said.

"Make no mistake. I'd have never been drawn to the Death Eaters if the opinion of others hadn't mattered to me. I'd have never strayed from them, either, if that of your mother hadn't driven me."

"But you left them in the end," the boy pointed out.

Severus almost had to smile. Here was Harry Potter, trying to restore his self-esteem. Merlin, the world was tilting precariously on its axis. "What others think of you influences you a great deal, Harry. But your choices remain your own. Have you had enough to eat?'

The boy looked blankly at his plate, as if he was having trouble extricating himself from his thoughts. "Yeah, I wasn't all that hungry anyway. Do you think the Sorting Ceremony's over?"

"Most likely," Snape agreed. "Ready to forge into the lion's den?"

Harry smiled. "The snake pit's more like it."

"Hmmm. From the moment we leave until we return, no transformations, is that understood? Whatever you have to say to Mr. Weasley or Miss Granger will have to wait," Snape continued.

"A cat and nothing but a cat. Understood. And if I have something urgent I have to let them know, I'll wait until you come back."

"You'll wait in any case until you're back at the Manor, Harry. It's not simply a matter of a disguise. I'd prefer you not to have to test your Occlumency abilities right away."

The boy swallowed hard. "Do you think Voldemort could try to attack me at Hogwarts?"

"Voldemort, probably not. He's most likely still too weak. But he's not the only one who knows how to use Legilimency, and many Death Eaters would pay dearly to be able to siphon information from you."

"But at Hogwarts? Do you really think they could reach me there?"

"I don’t' know," Snape said with a certain measure of irritation. "It's simply unnecessary to take the risk. It's the start of term, the best day to attempt such a thing."

"No one will know that I’m there," the boy retorted.

"No one will know that you're not there! Your absence wasn't reported in the Prophet, Harry. As far as everyone knows, you're at this very moment somewhere in Hogwarts, well-hidden. If you're not sure you can control yourself, then perhaps it'd be best for you to stay here."

"No," Harry capitulated, his spirits dampened. "I'm sure I can control myself; I'm just afraid of not doing it if…but it'll be fine. And if I lose control, I'll just have to come back to the Manor straight off."

Snape scrutinized him for a long moment, as if searching for something in his eyes. Harry didn't try to hide himself. Finally, the professor nodded and threw a handful of Floo powder in the fireplace. "Severus Snape's office, Hogwarts."

His head disappeared into the flames, then reappeared a few moments later. "Everything seems normal. Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley are waiting for you on the other side, as well as the Headmaster. Do you feel ready?" he asked for what felt like the hundredth time that day.

The boy smiled, and an instant afterward, Snape was facing a black cat with glossy fur, its green eyes sparkling as it looked at him.

This time, they'd got it right.

With a jerk of his head, he signaled for Harry to join him, and the cat gathered itself for a precise jump to his left shoulder.

Snape caught himself finding the situation strikingly natural, and as he enunciated his destination and stepped into the fireplace, he thought that it probably wasn't going to be long before he was known as 'the professor with a cat.'

***

Harry had always despised traveling by Floo powder, and Shadow didn't think any less. But arriving at Hogwarts on Snape's shoulder was largely worth the sacrifice, if only for the shocked expressions on Ron's, Hermione's and Dumbledore's faces when they made their appearance.

Hermione let out a gasp of surprise, Ron's eyes grew large, and Dumbledore rapidly blinked twice, before resuming his imperturbable façade.

By the tension in the Potions master's shoulders, Shadow could tell that the man was at least as satisfied by their entrance as he was.

"Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger," he said with a curt nod.

Regaining their wits, the two teenagers managed to speak. "Good evening, Professor."

"Might I entrust my cat to you while I am gone?" the professor asked courteously.

If Harry hadn't been in his Animagus form, he would've burst into laughter at the sight of his two friends, their mouths hanging open, watching Snape as if he'd suddenly grown another head.

Hermione was the first to take hold of herself. "Of course, Professor. We'll take good care of…"

She glanced at him, amused, with a question in her eyes.

"Shadow. His name is Shadow," Snape replied.

Shadow jumped to the floor at last, and went to join the two teenagers who seemed to be struggling to fit suitable expressions on their faces.

"Albus, I presume the Slytherins are waiting for me?" the Potions master asked.

"In your common room, Severus. Would you like me to go with you?"

Snape sniggered. "That won't be necessary. Shadow?"

The cat answered him with a blink of his eyes. Yes, everything would be fine. All his nervousness had gone when he'd found his two friends there, and even the Headmaster's presence didn't spoil the joy of being here at Hogwarts again with them.

With one last look at the cat, the Head of Slytherin strode purposefully from his office.

The door had hardly shut behind him when Ron and Hermione let out sighs of relief, bending down to get a better look at him.

"Are you all right…Shadow? With all that's happened, we weren't sure we'd see you today, since…."

Suddenly remembering the discreet presence of the Headmaster, Hermione stopped, annoyed.

"Ah well," Dumbledore said happily. "I believe the two of you have things well in hand. Don't forget what we talked about, and take care not to move or break anything in the professor's office. I could be mistaken, but I doubt he'd blame his cat!"

They all smiled as they looked at Shadow, who was nonchalantly licking his nose.

Then directly addressing the cat, the Headmaster said seriously, "It's a relief and a pleasure to have you back again and in good health, Shadow. I'm happy to see that you and your new master are getting on so well."

The little mischievous glint in his eyes was impossible to miss, but Harry appreciated the caution all the same. Was the Headmaster trying to tell him he fully intended to keep his word, and respect Snape's authority over Harry Potter?

But did Harry himself acknowledge it?

Shadow shook his head, and let out a short meow for the old wizard.

Dumbledore smiled at him kindly, before turning to the two teenagers standing impatiently at his side.

"I'll leave you to it. Try not to…oh, well, go beyond the limits. I trust you, do I not? Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley, Shadow, welcome back to Hogwarts!"

The two youngsters told him goodbye, waiting in silence for the door to close again, leaving them alone with a very clearly excited black cat.

He jumped to a chair in a single leap, then let out a series of short meows that pulled a smiled from Ron and Hermione.

"Sorry you can't talk, mate," the redhead said. "But bloody hell, with all you have to tell us, believe me, you're not the most frustrated one here!"

"Har…Shadow, are you doing all right?" Hermione asked, barely correcting herself in time.

Merlin, did everyone feel obligated to ask him that question? Did he seem to be in agony? He let out a commanding meow, and the girl smiled.

"Yes, Professor Snape seems to be taking good care of you…"

"Er…Shadow, then?" Ron said goofily. "I'd have expected something a bit more like Veritaserum, Beelzebub, or let's say…Salazar!"

The cat shot him a scornful look.

"Oh, but for sure, Shadow is completely…cute, yeah, that's the word I was looking for!"

The boy broke out into wild laughter, while Hermione looked on, somewhat fondly and half-annoyed.

"Forgive him, Shadow," she told the cat. "He doesn't know how to act…boys, you know."

Ron only laughed harder, managing to miss knocking over a bottle on shelf with his back.

"That's enough, Ron!" Hermione decided to finally grumble. "It's certainly not funny to…er…Shadow," she finished pitifully.

"Oh, he'll have to forgive us!" she continued, confused. "We've been very worried about you, all these stories, we didn't know whether to believe them or not…it's just nerves coming out; it's so good to see you, safe and sound and…in good company."

The cat blinked to tell her that he understood, and then spun around once. Were they determined to tell him what'd happened while he'd been gone?

Ron, who'd finally regained a bit of self-control, wiped a tear away and took his turn to come close. "In very…good company," he said with one last hiccough. "Oh Merlin, I can't wait for all the details…oh bloody hell, I know I shouldn't laugh, mate, I'm sorry, don't take it the wrong way. Hermione's right, we've been a bit tense lately…um." He shot him a sheepish look. "There're plenty of things to tell you, but seeing how you can't talk back…I think you'd really prefer if we wait. And believe me, it'll be worth it!"

Exasperated, Shadow spat. Were they trying to kill him with the suspense? News, he wanted news, stories without Voldemort, without stealing powers, without sacrifice…just Fred and George's fireworks, and Ginny's latest news. Was that too much to ask?

"It won't be long, you know," Hermione said with a conciliatory gesture. "I suppose that you'll be coming back to Hogwarts soon…with Professor Snape?"

Shadow nodded.

"The least we can say is that your absence at the meal was noticed," Ron said.  "The Slytherins didn't hear even half of the Sorting Hat's speech, or Dumbledore's either. Too busy whispering amongst themselves after seeing that Snape wasn't there for the Ceremony. A first for him."

"Harry's absence was noticed as well," Hermione told him casually. "And not only by the Slytherins. Dumbledore explained that Professor Snape would be back soon, but he didn't say a word about Harry. Many people think they're in hiding together."

Harry understood the necessity of not attracting attention to his true identity, really. But was this act that Dumbledore and Snape insisted upon really necessary? Merlin, anyone would've understood straight off, just by seeing them together…

But he didn't let any of his irritation show, and continued to listen to them talk about him in the third person.

"It's not known exactly what happened this summer, but plenty of rumors are circulating.  Voldemort was severely wounded and in hiding, the Death Eaters were on the run…"

"But the most interesting," Ron elaborated, "is that there're a lot of empty chairs at the Slytherin table. Apparently, certain families have suddenly decided to send their children to Durmstrang!'

"And that would have something to do with the fact that Professor Snape betrayed Voldemort," Hermione finished.

Shadow started.

"Yes, everyone knows about that," Ron said simply. "What's not clear to everyone is his role before that… Well, the Slytherins seem rather unanimous on that question," he added. "And honestly, in Snape's place, I wouldn't have been in such a hurry to throw myself into the snake pit."

"Many people seemed to think he'd not dare come back," Hermione explained. "As for the Gryffindors…certain of them think he kidnapped or killed Harry Potter, or both. No one really seems to think that he could've saved him like the papers claim. Certain of them think that Harry's dead, and that Dumbledore's trying to hold back the news, or cover for Snape. I think they'll be more reassured, seeing him back safe and sound."

Ron had trouble stifling a laugh, and Harry knew he'd just been spared another joke on his cat status.

But before he could meow a retort, their attention was attracted by a noise in the corridor, and the two teenagers instinctively brandished their wands. Sounds of running, a frantic and panicked flight, several people trying to flee as shouting rang out in the dungeons. Out of pure and simple terror, Harry realized, feeling the fur on his back stand up on end.

The noises sounded muffled to them, but there was no doubt that something was happening, just fifty feet from the office. Ron and Hermione looked at each other hesitantly; someone was obviously in danger.

That was when the shouting began in earnest, and there was no longer any question of someone going to their rescue; these screams were definitely not human, and the number of them, as well as their ferocity, left little room for doubt: whatever the creatures were that were at this very moment running in the corridors, the two teenagers couldn't do anything against them.

All three of them exchanged panicked looks, their wands still pointed toward the door. An attack, the first day of term? It was impossible…but Snape had dreaded this, Harry recalled. His paranoia hadn't been so unfounded, in the end.

"Shadow, go back to the Manor, it's too risky!" Hermione said, without looking away from the door.

But she was interrupted by another shout, closer and definitely human this time. Terribly human, and terribly young… A shout of sharp pain, covered by a growl of triumph, as screams of all sorts seemed to fill the air.  The teenagers looked nervously at each other; how many could there be? And especially, what?

The door was flung open full-force, and before they had time to think, Ron and Hermione had both cast a Petrificus that bounced against a shield thrown up in haste. Snape, out of breath, his black robes disheveled, looked for Shadow, before letting out a sigh of relief. With a flick of his wand, the heavy door was violently slammed shut, and the room's owner turned to quickly cast up wards.

Then, turning to the two teenagers and the cat in shock, he said, "Fifty points to Gryffindor for excellent reflexes. Granger, Weasley, read this!" he said tersely as he threw them a piece of paper, on which Ron and Hermione could read, 'Snape Manor,' in Dumbledore's fine and elegant handwriting.

"Hurry up," he said as he pushed them urgently toward the fireplace.

Blood-curdling screams echoed even closer, and a dull thud sounded against the door. The noise of a body being used as a battering ram.

Snape swore in a low voice, and threw a handful of powder into the grate. Then, taking Shadow into his arms, he called out, "Snape Manor! You two, go on! Merlin, what're you waiting for? A written invitation?"

With a jump, the two teenagers rushed into the green flames, immediately followed by the professor holding the cat as if his life depended on it.

And this was no doubt the case, Shadow thought, as they stepped into the peaceful laboratory at Snape Manor.

Ron and Hermione at the Manor…he'd expected anything but this. But that furious beast screaming in the dungeon corridors at Hogwarts?

Without delaying any longer, he retook his human form.

"Professor, what was that?" he pressed.

"An attack. I can't tell you more just now, but you're out of danger here. It was a huge mistake to make you come on the first day of term…but I'm out of time. Don't move from here, none of you, promise me!"

Ron and Hermione nodded distractedly, but Harry took care to look the professor in the eyes. "We're not going anywhere, I promise you. But please…do you have to go back there?"

For a brief moment, Snape's eyes softened, then he nodded. "I won't be long, Harry, the walls will protect you in case of an attack; do not go out for any reason, do you hear? Dumbledore or myself will come to get you. If no one's come within twelve hours…" He hesitated. "Send someone," he said with a wave toward Ron and Hermione, who were waiting behind Harry.

The boy vigorously nodded.

"Harry, it's possible that it's you they're looking for. Do not go out for any reason; have you understood me? Or this protection will have been placed in vain."

The intensity of the professor's eyes told Harry more than his words. 'I would've done all that for nothing.'

And that…no, Harry couldn't allow it. Nodding his head, he gave in. "We'll wait. But I won't be sending anyone. Come back quickly."

And once again, his eyes said more to the professor than the words he'd just spoken.

Snape struggled for a moment against the sudden desire to rest his hand on the boy's forehead to calm the spark of painful worry lighting up the green eyes. Harry would've understood…but remembering the presence of two other teenagers, he contented himself with just a nod.

"Everything will be all right," he said in his calmest voice.

Then, with a great crack¸ he Disapparated.