The morning of September 2nd was overcast and windy. Harry woke early and was tempted to snuggle down under the blankets to doze for a while, as he'd been doing for the past few days, but then he remembered.

It was the first day of class and there was no time for lying in that morning.

He gave an indignant little huff, but in spite of it he smiled as he threw back the covers and hurriedly changed from his plaid flannel pyjamas into his school uniform: white shirt, dark grey trousers and jumper, socks and shoes. It was slightly cool, enough that Harry was glad to pull his jumper over his head, but not terribly so. Severus must have cast another warming spell either last night after Harry had fallen asleep or early this morning.

Harry fixed the crimson and gold Gryffindor tie around his neck and headed to the bathroom to brush his teeth and hair.

A few minutes later he went out to the parlour, carrying his robe and schoolbag over his arm. Severus was sitting on the sofa, wearing his customary black clothes and glancing through his lesson plans.

He looked up and smiled. "Good morning. Are you ready to go up for breakfast?"

Harry set the bag down to slip his robe on. "I think so."

Severus gathered his sheets of parchment and tucked them into an inside pocket of his own robe. "You have Defense, Charms, and Herbology today?"

"Yes, sir. And Transfiguration and Potions tomorrow." As he spoke, Harry seriously wondered for the first time what Potions class would be like for him now. Severus had promised not to mistreat him again and Harry believed him. He wasn't worried about that anymore, but it would seem strange not to have to dread Potions so, not to have his stomach tie up in knots and make him sick, not to have to sit in the classroom waiting to be attacked.

He must have looked pensive or anxious or something because Severus stepped close in concern. "Harry, is something wrong?"

Harry abruptly decided that he didn't want to make his father feel any worse about the past than he already did and there really wasn't anything wrong, was there?

He twined his arms around Severus' waist. "No, nothing's wrong. I was just thinking that everything ought to be great this year. Voldemort's gone so I don't have to worry about him, and..." he looked away, suddenly feeling shy. "And I have you now, too. I'm sorry I was a prat last night. I'm happy living here. I really would rather be here than up in the Tower."

Severus placed an arm around his shoulders and held him close in a one-armed embrace for a moment. "You weren't a prat last night, Harry. I already told you I understood how you felt." He gave Harry's back a little pat and stepped back. "We'd best head upstairs now."

Harry grabbed his schoolbag and they started to leave, but at the door, Severus touched his shoulder and said softly, "And I'm very happy to have you as well."

Harry smiled at him as they stepped into the outside corridor and Severus closed the door behind them.

A group of younger Slytherins, two girls and two boys, were walking along the hallway also. Harry didn't think they were first-years. They didn't look quite that small and they seemed more confident and talkative than first-years normally were in the beginning. Perhaps they were twelve or thirteen.

The students looked uncertainly at Harry for a moment before they spoke to Severus.

"Good morning, Professor."

Severus nodded at them. "Good morning. I trust you're all ready for class?"

They assured him they were and one of the boys even smiled at him. "Yes, sir. We have Potions first, right after breakfast."

"I recall that in the past you've had some difficulty distinguishing between chopping and dicing, Mr. Morland. I hope that won't be an issue this year," Severus remarked, but his tone was tolerant and the boy didn't seem very intimidated.

"Yes, sir...I mean, no sir," he actually laughed at his mistake. "I understand it much better ever since you showed me the difference."

"Good." Severus' gaze traveled to Harry and he added. "I believe you all should recognise Mr. Potter."

There was a very awkward silence while Harry and the Slytherins studied one another. Harry thought to himself that it was almost comical how bewildered the younger kids were. Of course, in the past he and the Slytherins had been enemies, or at best rivals, and now their Head of House was escorting him around the dungeons and introducing him. The Slytherin students looked as if they weren't sure whether they were supposed to shake hands or hex him.

Harry decided to make the first move. He gave them a tentative smile. "Hi. It's good to be back at Hogwarts, isn't it?"

Slowly one of the girls nodded and said, "Yeah, it is."

The other three mumbled agreements and glanced at Severus again.

"Mr. Morland, you have expressed an interest in trying out for the Quidditch team, have you not? Perhaps Mr. Potter would be willing to give you a few tips," Severus remarked.

The boy gaped at him. "But, sir...he's a Gryffindor!"

Severus raised an eyebrow. "Yes, I am aware of that. He is also a talented Quidditch player."

Harry grinned at the boy. "It's okay. I don't bite."

The young Slytherin stared at him before hesitantly smiling back. "I'm Alec Morland. I really want to be on our team, but I don't think I have much of a chance. I'm only a second-year." He made a face. "And I'm short, even for twelve."

Harry considered him. The boy had brown hair and eyes, and he was short, but he was thin and looked as if he might have a wiry kind of strength.

"Size isn't everything in Quidditch," he answered. "I've always been short too."

"But you play Seeker and it's all right for Seekers to be small," Alec replied. "But Draco Malfoy is our Seeker and he's got two more years. I'd have to try out for Keeper or Chaser."

Severus interrupted. "Draco Malfoy is no longer Slytherin's Seeker. He has been removed from the team, so that position is open if you wish to try out for it, Mr. Morland."

That news surprised them all. Harry turned to Severus in astonishment and started to say something, but then decided to wait until they were alone.

"Malfoy's off the team?" The other Slytherins exclaimed.

Alec looked back at Harry. "Well, do you think...I mean, would you mind...if it wasn't too much trouble..." he trailed off awkwardly.

"You want to meet me down at the Quidditch pitch after class this afternoon? We could fly and maybe I could give you some pointers," Harry offered, smiling at him.

The younger boy managed to look simultaneously thrilled, relieved, and shocked. "Yeah, that would be great, really great. Um, thanks. Thanks a lot."

"You're welcome," Harry told him.

If Alec Morland was happy, the other three Slytherins just seemed bewildered and suspicious, but they didn't say anything in front of Severus and soon they arrived at the Great Hall.

"So this afternoon, about three?" Alec asked.

"Better make it three-thirty. I might have to clean up after Herbology," Harry replied.

"See you then." And the young Slytherins went to join their housemates at the Slytherin table.

Severus pulled Harry off to the side before they entered the Great Hall.

"That was well done, Harry," he said quietly.

Harry smiled at him. "It was your idea, really," he pointed out.

"You did not have to agree, but you did and perhaps have taken a step towards improving relations between Slytherin and Gryffindor," his father responded. "But at the same time, I do want you to be careful. Those four are nice enough children and none of them come from Death Eater families. But I know that some of the older Slytherins have no love for you, and I don't want you to come to any harm. As much as I would like to see Slytherin's reputation improve, I would not risk your well-being for it."

The concern in his voice made Harry feel a little embarrassed, but warm and happy, too. "Thanks," he said softly.

Severus gave him a puzzled look. "You do not have to thank me for caring about your safety and happiness. What kind of father would I be if I didn't?"

Harry shrugged. "Well, yeah, but still...thanks." He remembered something and looked up at Severus. "So Malfoy's off your Quidditch team?"

Severus nodded and glanced around to be sure no one else was within earshot. "Yes. Albus and I agreed that losing his prefect status and Quidditch position would be part of his punishment for harming you. It isn't enough, in my opinion, but we also have a slight problem in that if we make the punishment seem too excessive, then people may begin to wonder about the spell he cast against you. We don't want that."

"No, definitely," Harry agreed. "Guess Malfoy's not too happy, is he?"

"No, he's not very happy at all," Severus said grimly.

There was a sort of smug triumph in his voice and expression that reminded Harry of how Severus used to mistreat him and for a moment he felt an uncomfortable kinship with Malfoy. But then he remembered how terribly Draco Malfoy had harmed him and the sympathy faded.

More students were coming down the stairs on their way to breakfast by then.

Severus rested a hand on Harry's shoulder. "If you're going flying with Alec Morland after class, I suppose I won't see you again until dinner. Have a good day."

"You too," Harry replied.

They entered the Great Hall together and then separated, Severus going to the staff table at the far end of the Hall, snapping at loitering students on his way, while Harry headed for the Gryffindor table. Ron and Hermione hadn't come down yet so Harry sat next to Ginny, Neville, and Dean Thomas.

"Too bad you couldn't stay last night, Harry," Dean remarked. "Seamus slipped some Belching Powder into everyone's butterbeer. You should have seen Lavendar. She was a bit ticked off with him, and we played gobstones and..."

"Harry has to stay with Professor Snape for his health, Dean. It's not very nice to always be reminding him of things he's missing," Ginny said sharply.

"Oh. Sorry." Dean had the grace to look shame-faced. "I didn't think about it like that."

But Harry just shook his head. "It's all right. I like living with Severus."

Ginny and Neville didn't look too surprised, but Dean's mouth fell open.

Before he could do more than sputter, Harry went on, "He's changed a lot and we get along great now. In fact, we're like a family. So yeah, there are times that I miss being in the Tower with all of you guys, but I can visit during the day and I'm okay with that. It's all right."

Dean still seemed speechless, but Harry felt a little proud of himself. The other Gryffindors needed to know right off the bat that he liked living with Severus. What he'd said was true and everyone would just have to accept it.

Before Dean recovered his powers of speech and could possibly argue, Harry turned to Neville and gestured to a platter that was just out of his reach. "Hey, Neville, could you pass those sausages down here?"

Ron and Hermione hurried in just then and took seats beside Harry. Hermione seemed a little flustered while Ron was stifling a yawn.

"Sorry we're late, Harry. Apparently Ron had a hard time waking up this morning," Hermione explained. She scooped some eggs onto her plate. "Oh, this looks good." She frowned over at Ron. "If only we had time to actually enjoy our breakfast instead of having to bolt it down."

Ron didn't seem perturbed in the slightest. He helped himself to eggs and porridge and then took a couple of sausages from the platter Harry held out to him. "Don't have a cow, Hermione. We have plenty of time."

"Yes, if you're used to eating to like a barbarian," Hermione grumbled.

"Well, you don't have to wait for him," Ginny pointed out. "You could come on whenever you're ready."

But Hermione didn't even consider that suggestion. "We always walk down together."

Ron shot Ginny a pleased look as he munched on his sausage.

A short time later they all stood and begin shuffling out of the Hall on their way to the first class of the year.