Potions and Snitches
Snape and Harry Gen Fanfiction Archive

Author's Chapter Notes:
Hello all. I’m glad to see you’ve all enjoyed Harry and Holly’s reunion and that it’s lived up to expectation.
Now, of course, we’ll get to see Snape’s reaction. Hope it too lives up to expectation.
Oh, and that little excerpt comes straight from the Order of the Phoenix . It doesn’t belong to me but I hope you enjoyed my little twist on it.
Nip it in the Bud

Chapter 16 -  Nip it in the Bud

 

Severus settles his expression into something neutral for the Feast. He cannot deny he is on a high right now. Relations with his daughter are better than ever. Though Holly hasn’t done so to his face, Lucius has informed him that she had called him ‘dad’ as she had run to tell him Severus had allowed her to stay.

This is what he wanted all along - from the moment he’d read Tobias’ letter and stormed over to his father’s house to confirm the contents of the missive, from the moment he’d laid eyes on the miniature version of himself.

Even watching the monsters known as students doesn’t bring Severus down. Ideally, he would have liked to keep Holly hidden away, protected from the war hovering overhead. Even if her tearful accusation of being his dirty little secret hadn’t been flung at him, Severus finds the thought of sending his daughter away from him less and less palatable.

He believes he is slowly winning her trust. Holly is speaking to him without being forced to, holding his hand, seeking his protection; he thinks of her crowding behind his legs when that cretin Fletcher had bent for a closer look. Now, she hugs him - shy as a bud at the first ray of sunshine but still with enough vigour to make her inner certainty clear.

It will not be long until she acknowledges him as her father and lays her head trustingly on his shoulder as she comfortably does with Lucius.

The students take their seats slowly, chattering amongst themselves. His Slytherins are the quieter of the lot, their watchful eyes observing the Hall. Many look up at him, and he nods reassuringly in return. The dynamics should be interesting this year. Lucius has spent much of the summer reaching out to associates and consolidating his base, with the promise of power influencing as many people on his side as possible.

Though Severus has never had any issues with controlling his snakes, Lucius’ presence is a boon. The other wizard holds more political power than Severus ever will, and the Potion Master aims to avoid losing his snakes to the ranks of the Death Eaters.

Albus looks over the students with a faint smile. All the teachers converse quietly amongst themselves, and Severus allows himself to be drawn into conversation with Hagrid.

The Acromantula colony has withdrawn further into the forest, and Hagrid has kindly gathered some left behind webbing and various other parts Severus can take for his Potions stores. Hagrid, the man who could never keep a secret, certainly kept the Acromantula as one.

Lucius and Holly enter from the teacher’s entrance and quietly take their seats. Slowly, as the students take notice of Holly, and her resemblance to the Potions Master, speculations and their voices rise.

Severus observes with hidden amusement how the Weasley twins’ jaws drop at the sight of his little girl, swivelling their heads towards the entrance doors and then back towards each other. He notes how Finnegan and Thomas shift from their original seats and move closer to the Weasleys. Ridiculous what children will do for a little bit of gossip and conjecture.

Pomona laughs as she catches Severus’ eye. “They’re all in a tizzy, aren’t they?”

“Ridiculous children,” Severus scoffs.

“You can hardly blame them,” Lucius comments as he scrutinises the students.

Draco and Pansy, the last of his Slytherins, walk in and take their seats. Severus frowns at the scowl his godson is sporting. Looking down at Holly, he gently catches her chin to get her attention, studying her red eyes closely.

“You’ve been crying,” he notices with a puckered brow. “Did things not go well with Draco?”

Did the boy upset the girl even further?

“Tears of joy,” Lucius replies smoothly, bringing a protective arm around Holly.

Only Holly’s acceptance of Lucius’ gesture calms Severus’ rising temper: in view of their various dramas, it will be difficult for him to refrain from harsh reprimand if Draco continues to behave like an arrogant prig.

When Severus continues to glower at him, Lucius resumes in a more convincing tone: “Draco’s in a bad temper because of Potter.”

The Potions Master follows the blond’s eyes to his son, indeed busy glaring daggers at Potter, who has walked in unnoticed by Severus and taken his seat close to the Weasley twins.

On the other end, Miss Lovegood splits from the group of Gryffindors and takes an empty seat, away from her Housemates at the Ravenclaw table. Severus disapproves of her association with Potter, and he’s still unable to decipher whether this annoyance is due to his innate hatred towards the Boy-Who-Lived or the sense of protection he feels towards Lovegood. He has a secret fondness for the outcast, so he tries to help her whenever possible. His snakes have been warned that the girl is off-limits in no uncertain terms, though Severus, unfortunately, cannot control what happens within the Ravenclaw tower.

If Miss Lovegood thinks associating with Potter and his posse would bring her any form of protection, she is sorely mistaken.

“Thank you for letting me go,” Holly smiles at him, bringing his attention back to her.

Severus nods, though Lucius’ frown still disquiets him.

He puts it all aside as the Headmaster gets the attention of everyone in the Great Hall, introducing the Sorting Ceremony.

The Sorting Hat’s song warns them to work together and reunite the Houses, but Severus only half-listens to it, paying more attention to the students sorted into Slytherin.

After the Sorting, Minerva takes her seat, and Albus summons the food. Holly and Severus still receive speculative glances throughout the meal, which the professor ignores, while Holly deliberately turns away from the Hall, focusing on conversations with various teachers, to Severus’ approval.

He notices the worried and anxious looks the Weasleys send Potter’s way. Conversely, Potter is the only student in the Hall who has not looked at Holly. Typical of Potter - he has to be the centre of attention and can’t seem to take someone else being talked about more than him.

“Why aren’t you eating?” Severus observes strictly, looking at his daughter’s empty plate. He fills up her plate with a selection of foods when she doesn’t answer. He is lucky in that she is not a picky eater.

“That’s too much,” she complains.

“Eat what you can,” he encourages and then has to fight a blush when Pomona sends him an amused glance. He is not the coddling type and pastes his customary scowl on his face instead.

Once the Feast is consumed, Albus finally stands up and calls for everyone’s attention. All the teachers find it amusing that, for once, the students are paying attention, even if their looks of impatience are hilarious: everyone’s eyes keep running to the now shy Holly, while Albus, without showing any sign of being bothered by the fact that he is not being listened to at all, gives the usual start-of-term warnings for contraband, Quidditch trials and warnings to avoid the Forbidden Forest.

“I am pleased to announce our newest Professor for Defence Against the Dark Arts, Lucius Malfoy,” Albus announces, and a stunned silence descends on the Hall. “I am sure you will all join me in welcoming Professor Malfoy.”

As expected, the news of Lucius’ position is received with raucous applause from the Slytherin table. Draco even pulls himself out of whatever strop he is in, puffs out his chest and smirks, looking around the table as if he is the one they are applauding for, not his father.

Lucius, on the contrary, acknowledges the applause with an impassive nod.

The cheers from the rest of the Houses are more polite, but Severus does not miss the way the Weasleys are steadfastly scowling in Lucius’ direction. The Weasley and Malfoy feud is still going strong. He knew there was an incident three years ago, but Lucius had been inflexibly silent on it.   Severus knows Albus did not tell the Weasleys of Lucius’ new position until the last minute possible.

“Now,” Albus exclaims, commanding their attention again, “no doubt you are all curious about our little guest. Holly, my dear, please join me.”

Albus waits patiently for Holly to timidly make her way around the Head table as the students wait with bated breath.

“This is little darling,” the Headmaster pronounces, with a protective hand on the girl’s head,  “is called Holly. As you certainly have deduced, she is the daughter of our very own Professor Snape. Due to personal circumstances that I am sure none of you will delve into, Holly will now stay at Hogwarts with her father. Please, welcome her into our Hogwarts family. You shall certainly see more of her throughout the year. And now, I believe it is time for you all to make your way to your dormitories.”

Dismissed from the Feast, the students waste no time surging to their feet. Severus watches his prefects, seeing Draco and Pansy leading the First years down to the Common Rooms; he nods to himself and leads Holly back to the dungeons.

 

ooOoo

 

Harry and Hermione lead the First years to the Gryffindor Tower, taking them via the direct route. Though Harry is sure, Hermione confuses them when she points out several passageways. Still, unlike Percy, who had been Prefect in their first year, Harry and Hermione have already decided to be up early to show the new students how to get to the Great Hall for breakfast in the morning.

Harry is certain that Hermione is running a commentary to stop herself from interrogating him about Holly.

“The password for this week is Mimbulus Mimbletonia,” Hermione announces. “When it’s changed, don’t hesitate to ask the Prefects for the new one. However, there’s usually an announcement on the noticeboard, so make sure you check it regularly.”

Harry hides a smile. Neville will love the new password, inspired by the gifted plant; he had had to clean up the stink sap quickly before getting off the train.

After leading the First years to their dorms and leaving them to settle in and fall asleep, most likely, Harry returns to the Common room.

Wishing he could avoid this until the morning, but knowing that is an impossible wish, he approaches his friends as if approaching the gallows.

Throwing himself into one of the comfortable chairs around the fireplace, he looks at them all in turn without speaking.

The Common room is mostly empty, save for a few Seventh years. He sees Angelina and Alicia from the Quidditch team sitting near the window seats; the former is the new Quidditch Captain, her shiny badge pinned to her robes.

They all look at each other, waiting for someone to make the first move. The silence is broken by Seamus and Dean coming down from the fifth-year dorms.

“So,” Seamus pipes up first, looking uncomfortably at them all, “Snape’s got a daughter.”

Having already had a confrontation with the Irish wizard on the train about his mother refusing to let her son back to Hogwarts due to rumours of Voldemort’s return, Harry is glad Seamus isn’t looking at him with the same accusing eyes as his friends. However, the sandy-haired boy is still looking at Harry with confusion.

“Did you know?” Ron asks, his jaw clenched, while Harry debates about how much to reveal.

“Will everyone sit down?” he sighs, lifting his glasses and rubbing the fatigue from his eyes. “I don’t want you all looming over me.”

Without waiting another second, Seamus presses on with trepidation: “Are you related to Snape?”

A startled laugh escapes him before Harry can stop it.

“No,” he denies.

There are some things he can’t tell them, like Iris’s real identity and how he already knew Lucius Malfoy would be the new Defence teacher. He can’t tell them how he discovered Holly was Snape’s daughter due to the newspaper article he’d found about Eileen Prince. Also, he has to be wary of what he can say due to Seamus and Dean’s presence. They know nothing about Sirius, Regulus, or the whole thing about the Order and the Headquarters.

“I didn’t know Holly was Snape’s daughter or at least not initially. I found out, in any case. After I left the Dursleys, I asked someone I trusted to look for Holly after Social Services had taken her away.”

For the sake of Seamus and Dean, he quickly adds, “Iris, Holly’s grandmother, passed away. I didn’t find out until the next morning when I went to Surrey.”

Harry acknowledges their commiserations with a sad smile and a nod; he has to pause and swallow the lump in his throat before continuing.

“Holly,” he croaks, pausing to clear his throat again. “Holly was alone, and I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her when she had lost the last of her family. Oma had never mentioned Holly’s dad, so I thought he was out of the picture. The person I asked to look for Holly told me midway through summer that her dad had found her. Then, he told me Snape, of all people, was Holly’s dad. I never expected her to be here, at Hogwarts.”

He looks around at his friends with an earnest look, knowing they have figured out that the trusted person is Regulus.

“Does Snape know about you?” Neville asks, looking nervous at the thought.

“I don’t think so,” Harry replies uncertainly. Regulus had assured him that Snape didn’t know. But Regulus hasn’t been around Grimmauld Place for the last two weeks, and he doesn’t know what Holly might have said.

“Come off it,” George butts in. “We all know Snape hates Harry.”

“Unless it was all an elaborate act,” Fred points out.

 Harry is quick to assure them, “It definitely wasn’t.”

“In any case, Snape doesn’t know about Harry and Holly’s connection,” George continues.

“Exactly,” Fred agrees. “Otherwise, Snape would have poisoned Harry’s food.”

“He’s too clever to kill Harry straight away,” Ginny inputs. “He’d use something slow-acting and undetectable.”

“If Harry doesn’t wake up in the morning,” Neville adds, not in a very reassuring way, “we know Snape’s killed him.”

“Unless he doesn’t sleep in the first place,” Dean points out.

Harry appreciates the twins trying to lighten the mood, but all this talk of possible excruciating death within twelve hours only heightens his anxieties at having just re-embraced Holly and caring for her secretly from Snape.

 Ron, bringing them back to the topic, inquires: “Why was Holly all buddy-buddy with Malfoy?”

“I don’t know,” Harry admits, wondering how Malfoy had managed to get on Holly’s good side. “But I don’t trust him at all.”

He notices the Weasleys, and Hermione, relax at his words. He knows he is keeping a lot of information to himself, but at least he can tell the truth in this. Between Regulus’ warnings and Iris’ letter, not to mention his own experience, he doubts he could ever trust Lucius Malfoy - or his son.

“Harry,” Ron begins hesitantly, “now that Holly has her dad, even if it is Snape, why don’t you let her go? I mean, before you said it was because she was alone. Well, she’s not alone anymore.”

Harry feels his face settling into a cold mask. Surprised at how Ron managed to bring up the issue he thought they had solved, he is too slow to say anything in defence of his brotherly relationship with Holly. Ron notices, and a hint of a satisfied smile paints his lips.

Astonishingly, it is Fred who snaps. “Shut up, Ron! Harry’s kept a picture of Holly since he first stepped foot in Hogwarts.”

“That doesn’t mean anything!” Ron says obstinately. “She’s not really his sister, is she?”

“And Percy was really our brother but guess what? That didn’t stop him from taking Fudge’s side over ours,” Fred retorts angrily, crossing his arms. His eyes, usually lit by a hilarious playfulness, are now inflamed with anger.

Dean, Seamus and Neville look uncomfortable at the turn in conversation. Neville is already privy to Percy’s defection from the Weasley family, but Dean and Seamus are hearing a lot of this for the first time.

“Blood doesn’t make a family, mate,” Dean chimes in with a low voice, giving Ron a dirty look, surprising Harry with his support.

Seeing Ron doesn’t look convinced, Harry decides to make his position clear once and for all.

“I don’t know what your issue with Holly is, Ron. But if the need ever arises to choose between Holly and someone else, I wouldn’t even think about it.”

That said, Harry gets up abruptly from his seat and heads to his dormitory to prepare for bed.

More than half an hour later, Harry, having stripped to his boxers and a t-shirt, lays on his back in bed, still wide awake when the others return.

Their voices are subdued as they change into their nightwear, their movements muffled.

“Harry?” Ron’s quiet voice cuts through the drawn curtains of his bed.

He ignores his friend, wondering if he can even call Ron his friend anymore - not when he keeps trying to deny Harry’s relationship with Holly. It hurts that Ron would try to get Harry to abandon Holly yet again, especially after promising him that summer that he wouldn’t repeat it. Harry loves his friends, grateful to have them at all after a childhood of any chance of friendship ruined by Dudley, but Iris and Holly have always been there for him. And now that Iris is gone, he only has Holly left. He cannot lose her - not again. And now, he has to fight Snape.

He waits until Ron moves away, the lights are out, and all the other boys are in bed; he remains awake until their snores and soft breathing fills the dorm. Then he turns to his side, with his back to the rest of them. Tears prickle at his eyes, but he fights them back. Instead, he breathes deeply, clearing his mind and concentrating on the playground he uses for his Occlumency shields.

Like every night since they were separated, he falls asleep at the thought of Holly by his side once more.

 

ooOoo

 

Lucius is up early at a ridiculous hour. Summoning a House Elf to bring him breakfast, he showers and dresses in record time so he can spend more time eating breakfast at a sedate pace rather than having to choke it down quickly.

Due to the early hours, only the portraits are awake, barely, as he makes his way to Dumbledore’s office.

Entering the Headmaster’s office, he sees the old fool is already sitting at his desk, quill in hand, working away on his parchments.

“Ah, good morning, Lucius,” Albus greets him brightly - too brightly for this early in the morning.

“Headmaster,” Lucius replies, in place of the slovenly grunt he wants to give. He wishes he could go back to bed for a few more hours. Today is going to be a stressful day.

Apart from the first day of classes and establishing his authority, one of which is Potter’s class, he still has to speak with Draco about Potter, talk to Potter about an alliance, and listen to Severus yell at him for keeping Potter’s relationship with Holly a secret the whole summer. But before getting to any of that, he must go with Dumbledore and ask the old man to cast the Fidelius Charm over the Manor.

Inviting Dumbledore to his Manor is a necessary evil, a small price he’s willing to pay if it means keeping his family safe.

“Have you studied the blueprints for the Manor?”

“I have, indeed,” Dumbledore reassures him, standing up from his chair. Picking up the large roll of parchment, he beckons Lucius closer, opening it up and lying it smoothly over his desk with a Sticking Charm to stop it from curling back.

“These are the focal points, according to my calculations,” Dumbledore begins, pointing at five different spots in the blueprints. “I shall add these runes,” he brings out a slip of parchment with the Fidelius runes drawn on them, “at each of these points, including your main wardstone. It will encompass the whole of the property, including the land.”

Lucius studies the runes with interest. Uruz for Endurance, Isa for Stillness, Algiz for Protection, Berkano for Sanctuary and Dagaz for Invisibility. At least, that is how Lucius interprets them, given the context for the Fidelius.

Dumbledore gestures towards the Floo. “Shall we take our leave?”

When Lucius consents, Dumbledore rolls up the blueprints and opens a drawer pulling out his carving kit, which he then pockets.

Taking a pinch of Floo powder, the blond throws it into the already lit fire, calling out, “Malfoy Manor.”

Narcissa and Regulus are already waiting for them as Lucius steps through, and the first thing he does is pull Narcissa into a hug, giving in to the impulse to kiss her.

Regulus coughs pointedly as Dumbledore steps through, and both wizards give the couple an amused look.

“Morning, my darling,” Lucius whispers before pulling away.

“Morning, Lucius,” she murmurs back.

Feeling slightly more revitalised after seeing his wife, Lucius straightens up, ready to protect his family and home.

 

ooOoo

 

Severus needs a gallon of coffee before he feels awake. Circe knows what’s gotten into Holly. She is so far from the sullen girl he’s used to seeing; though she has behaved better with him for the last week, she is practically hyper today.

Last night, it wasn’t easy to get her to bed. Severus is certain she hadn’t slept at all when he got up the following day, finding her sitting at the kitchen table, already bathed, her hair flowing loosely down her back, dressed, and her school bag placed next to her. Perhaps he underestimated how much she missed Draco.

Still, he cannot leave for breakfast until he greets the new Slytherins.

“Can’t I go to breakfast without you?” she says plaintively.

Holding back a sigh and perhaps a little of his rising temper (he really needs coffee to function), he states without further replies, “We’ll go together.”

She pouts but obeys.

He gets ready quickly, striding out of his quarters towards the Slytherin Common room, muttering the portrait’s password and entering.

Draco and Pansy already have the First years ready and waiting. Severus gives his traditional speech of making the House proud, to come to him if they have any problems and that any in-House fighting should stay in the House.

Releasing the first years, he calls for Draco.

“Yes, Professor?”

Pansy hangs back, looking curious.

“As you were, Miss Parkinson,” he dismisses her smoothly.

Pansy leaves reluctantly, shooting an inscrutable look towards Draco as she does so.

Concerned at his godson’s uncharacteristic downcast expression, Severus says, “Holly’s been impatient to meet you all morning. Do you want to walk with us to the Great Hall? Perhaps she can join up at the Slytherin table if you are amenable?”

Draco’s subdued expression changes in an instant, “Really? She asked about me? I don’t mind showing her around. Blaise and Theo were asking about her last night as well. She can sit at the Slytherin table with us.”

Severus’ lips twitch as if to smile.

“Do you want to come with me as we can all walk to the Great Hall together?” he prompts.

A disgruntled expression settles over Draco.

“Not today,” he says. “I already told the others we’d go up together. Theo wants to discuss something about his Transfiguration homework before we go up.”

Severus nods, though he believes Draco needs assistance with Transfiguration rather than Nott.

“I shall see you later, Draco.”

Severus heads back to his quarters, where Holly impatiently waits for him to return. She jumps out of her chair as soon as he enters the kitchen.

“Can we go now?” she scowls, wrinkling her nose at him.

Severus has an almost irresistible urge to boop it.

“Let’s go,” he sighs, feeling old at her energy.

All smiles now, she snatches her school bag from the kitchen table, shrugging it over her shoulders. She grabs his hand and practically drags him out of his own quarters. He tries in vain to calm his racing heart. Deciding to keep Holly with him seems to have been the right decision, given her current behaviour. Things seem to finally be looking up for their relationship.

To his amusement, Holly lets out an actual scream of frustration when he insists on detouring by his office so he can pick up the schedules for his students.

Even with his long legs, he finds he has to pick up his pace as she drags him along by the hand. As they leave the dungeons, he remembers to keep his face aloof as the stream of students entering the Great Hall becomes steady. He still has a reputation to maintain. Using the staff door, they enter the Great Hall, where his daughter charges ahead, making a beeline for Minerva.

“Is he here yet?” she asks the Scottish witch breathlessly.

“Not yet, pet,” Minerva informs her.

Scanning the Slytherin table, Severus notices that Draco indeed hasn’t come up yet. Yet, he doesn’t understand why Minerva looks so despondent.

“Is all well, Minerva?” he inquires quietly.

Pomona, who sits on Minerva’s other side, turns with a concerned look as she hears the question.

Shaken from her distraction, Holly pierces Minerva with a look of distress.

“I’m sorry. It’s because of me, isn’t it?”

Severus and Pomona are confused at this declaration, while Minerva makes a visible effort to shake herself out of her funk. Pulling Holly into a firm hug, she assures her, “Never.”

“Minerva,” Pomona begins to question, but her colleague makes clear her desire to change the subject by clearing her throat and passing a plate of kippers to the Herbology professor, “Try these, Pomona. They’re particularly delicious today. And Severus, you better drink some coffee; otherwise, you shall be more of a grouch than usual.”

Quite suddenly, Holly happily announces.“Oh, he’s here. There’s something I have to do.”

To Severus’s bemusement, she pulls out a notebook and pen from her school bag. Before he can ask what she is up to, she scrambles from her chair and walks around the table. Severus, expecting her to head for the Slytherin table towards Draco, is instead baffled when she walks down the Gryffindor side.

Following her with his eyes, he feels a rising bewilderment and irritation when she stops in front of… Potter?

A hush falls over the Great Hall as they watch with the same puzzlement Severus feels.

Potter looks no less confused when Holly stops before him.

“Hello, Harry Potter. Can I please have your autograph?”

 

ooOoo

 

Having showered and readied himself for the day ahead, Harry waits in the Common room for Hermione so they can take the first years down to breakfast together. Ron is still getting ready, and though Harry doesn’t feel like talking to his friend right now, he’s not so petty that he won’t wait for the redhead.

“Morning, Harry,” Ginny calls brightly as she wanders down from the girl’s dorm, yawning.

“Ginny,” he greets. “Listen, I meant to ask. About last night-”

“Ron’s just being stupid,” she cuts him off with a scowl she directs up towards the boy’s dorms. “You know what he’s like. The rest of us will support you with Holly. We understand how much she means to you.”

Harry feels warmed by her words.

“Thanks,” he smiles at her. “But that’s not what I meant.”

At her questioning look, he clarifies, “I just wanted to check you were okay with Malfoy being here. I mean, it’s different from seeing him at the Quidditch World Cup, where you only had to see him for a few hours, but it’s something totally different seeing him all year round.”

Ginny takes a deep breath before she answers.

“Mum and Dad were really angry with Dumbledore for not telling them sooner.”

Harry feels a dart of guilt go through him at her words, knowing he could have warned them as well.

“None of us believes he’s actually changed sides,” she continues, crossing her arms defensively. “Dad said he’s probably playing both sides to see, you know, who will win. Dad said the Malfoys have always been clever like that. I overheard him talking to Mum, saying whatever Malfoy saw in the graveyard showed him you were someone to watch out for.”

Harry doesn’t like to talk about the graveyard and what happened there. When he spoke to Cho on the train, he knew she wanted to learn more and, after all, she deserved it; Cedric had been her boyfriend, and his sudden death could not have been easy to accept.

“I got lucky. That was all,” Harry mumbles. That is all he is prepared to say.

Ginny’s expression softens.

Harry has never spoken about any of his adventures outside of those who have been there with him. Besides making sure Ginny was okay after the Chamber incident, Harry has never spoken to her about that.

“And maybe if you spoke to McGonagall or Dumbeldore, I think they can excuse you from Malfoy’s classes. I’m sure they’ll understand. Hermione and I can catch you up on whatever work you need for Defence. Hermione can tutor you in theory, and I’ll help you in the practical.”

“Thanks, Harry. I’ll speak to McGonagall.”

Fifteen minutes later, they are joined by Ron, Neville and Hermione. Matters are still awkward between Ron and Harry, and Hermione, who had been curiously silent last night, greets them with a stilted  “Good Morning.”

Harry has a sinking feeling she came on Ron’s side of the argument, though uncharacteristically refused to comment. He feels hurt that both his closest friends believe he should let Holly go because Snape is her dad. At least Neville and the other Weasleys are on his side - however much he hates that there are sides to take.

Holly is his sister; that’s the end of the story. Hermione, Ron, even Snape – none of them can do anything to change that. Even if Holly someday decides she no longer needs Harry, a genuine fear of his, he would still watch out for her from afar.

“Oh, those idiots,” Hermione exclaims in frustration as they walk past the noticeboard.

Hiding a grin, he sees what has her riled up. Fred and George must have got up early this morning (or done it late last night) to put up a poster advertising for product testers.

“Harry, we’ve got to tell them to stop this,” Hermione urges him hotly, and Harry promises they’ll talk to them soon.

“Rather you than me,” Ron mutters behind them.

Harry wonders how Ron might have handled them if he had become Prefect instead of him.

Making wooden conversation, they clutch their school bags tighter and lope off together to the Great Hall.

Harry and Hermione trail behind them with the first years, wearing expressions that cross between nervousness and excitement.

As he did last night, Harry exercises great willpower to not look up at the Head Table for either Holly or Snape. Instead, he concentrates on the Gryffindor table, looking for spare seats near Fred and George.

Because he is concentrating on the twins so ardently, he fails to understand why a slow silence fills the Hall until an energetic Holly stops in front of him, thrusting a pen and notebook, asking with a bright smile for his autograph.

There’s a choking noise to his left.

“I – er, I –” he stutters, wondering what she’s up to.

“Please?” she pleads beseechingly, giving him a doe-eyed look.

He looks helplessly at his friends, but the traitors only look at him with amusement. Harry catches the mischievous look in his sister’s eyes, and it clicks for him: she’s somehow found out about the whole Boy-Who-Lived business, and now she’s teasing him for it.

Little monster, he thinks affectionately.

“Sure,” he agrees, now feeling relaxed knowing she’s pulling his leg. “Do you want to sit down with us?”

“Really? You want me to sit down with you?” the little drama queen hams it up. “I’ve never sat down with a celebrity before.”

Ginny giggles across from him, hastily hiding her mouth behind her hands.

“Do you know our Harry?” Fred pipes up, knowing everyone is listening.

Apart from Harry’s roommates and friends, no one knows of Harry and Holly’s relationship.

“Harry’s a hero. I read about him in books such as Modern Magical History, The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century,” she replies, sounding so much like Hermione that everyone looks at the witch in question, who flushes under their attention.

“Sounds about right,” Neville nods, lips twitching.

Thankfully, the hubbub begins to rise once more as they all take a seat at the Gryffindor table, though those closest to Harry still strain to hear the conversation.

“Malfoy looks madder than Fluffy,” Ron mutters in Harry’s ear, but he refuses to look behind him. Draco means nothing to him.

“Have you eaten yet?” Harry asks, pulling a plate and adding two pieces of toast.

 

ooOoo

 

“Why is she down there?” Severus mutters irritably.

With a scowl, he listens to her reel off the list of books she has read about Potter. Ridiculous that she’s buying into that Boy-Who-Live hype. Feeling mortified, he pours himself some much-needed coffee.

“Bless the child; she’s just a fan of Mr Potter’s,” Pomona sighs with a sappy grin. It’s a far cry from her angry mien from last year. Usually fair-minded, Pomona had vindicated Severus the previous year when she joined him in slating the boy’s character. Like Severus, she believed Potter had entered the Triwizard Tournament for glory, needing all attention on him, only denying it because he’d been caught. Pomona’s ire only lasted until the end of the First Task, at which point she’d changed her mind believing the innocent boy had been entered against his will.

Severus himself had at first believed Potter did himself, regretting it only until he realised what he would be facing. Not until Crouch confessed that he had been behind Potter’s entry into the Tournament that Severus believed the brat didn’t do it.

Now, his innocent daughter was enamoured with a strutting peacock like Potter. And Potter, the fiend, is lapping it up, inviting Holly to sit with him for breakfast. Well, if the brat thought Severus would go easy on him in Potions because he was friendly with the Potions Master’s daughter, he had another thing coming.

And look at the arrogant sot!

Inviting Holly to sit with him but not even ensuring she was eating. Instead, the selfish brat concentrated on piling food on his own plate whilst starving his daughter!

 

ooOoo

 

“No, not yet,” she answers as he finishes buttering the toast.

On one slice, Harry adds three bacon rashers, slices up two sausages, places them on top, piles a scoop of scrambled eggs, adds a dash of salt and pepper, and then reaches for the ketchup, which he squirts on top. He adds two hash browns before adding the second toast, then carefully slices the sandwich diagonally into two.

He swaps Holly’s empty plate with his own, then pours her a glass of milk.

“Milk first,” he says, falling back on old habits even though it’s been more than a year since he’s had breakfast with Holly.

“Aw, that’s so sweet,” he hears Lavender coo and feels his face heating up.

“Thanks, Harry. I’ve never had a hero make me a sandwich before,” she teases him before picking up half a sandwich and taking a bite.

His blush deepens.

Ron coughs and splutters, to everyone’s disgust, accidentally spitting pumpkin juice everywhere.

 Dean laughs out loud. “That’s a mighty heroic sandwich.”

“Harry,” Ginny mockingly admonishes, “you’ve never made me a sandwich like that.”

“So ungrateful,” Neville shakes his head at the redhead. “He saved your life. Isn’t that better than a sandwich?”

“It would have been nice if he’d brought a sandwich down to the Chamber,” Ginny gripes.

“I did,” Harry snarks, “but Ron ate it.”

Ron’s ears turn red as they all laugh at the joke.

 

ooOoo

 

“Isn’t he so considerate?” Minerva smiles at Severus as Potter pours Holly a glass of milk.

“He knows we are watching,” Severus scowls down at Minerva’s darling Potter. It is the only explanation. Neither Holly nor Potter have looked up at him.

Beastly boy, corrupting his daughter already. Looking over at the Slytherin table, he checks how Draco is handling it.

His godson’s scowl is fiercer than Severus’, and it looks like Nott and Zabini are holding him back. Probably best Draco stays away, though Severus would like nothing more than to storm down there and snatch Holly away from Potter.

 

ooOoo

“Have you been okay?” Harry asks quietly, looking Holly over carefully.

She smiles at him in response, her eyes shining.

“I missed you,” she mumbles, placing her sandwich back down and hugging him around the middle.

“I missed you, too,” Harry replies, returning her hug and then nudging her glass of milk towards her. “So much.”

“Aren’t you eating too?”

“Yeah,” he nods and begins to pile some scrambled eggs on his plate, then takes the platter of sausages that Hermione hands him.

“Oh, Harry,” George begins breathlessly, “are you going to show us how a hero eats?”

“Shut up,” Harry mumbles, his face reddening again, while Holly giggles as she picks up her sandwich again.

“Are you mad I didn’t tell you?” he asks her, anxious for her answer.

“No,” Holly replies innocently. “I could never be mad at a hero.”

Harry groans as his friends laugh again. Parvati and Lavender look confused at Harry and Holly’s familiarity. Of course, as they are not close friends and have never seen Harry’s photo album in the dorms, they don’t know Harry knew Holly before Snape did.

“All right, all right,” Harry concedes. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

 

ooOoo

Get your backside back up here, child, Severus screams at his daughter in the privacy of his own mind. Get away from that boy!

He doesn’t see the look Minerva and Pomona exchange, nor does he notice he is shredding his dry toast into crumbs.

“I should hand out my badgers their timetables,” Pomona declares and pushes back her chair.

“Don’t forget yours, Severus,” Minerva reminds him as she, too, stands up.

Severus merely grunts in acknowledgement.

 

ooOoo

 

Ron groans as he looks at his timetable. McGonagall moves further down the table.

“History of Magic, Double Potions, Divination and Double Defence Against the Dark Arts… Binns, Snape, Trelawney and Malfoy. All in one day!” Ron looks toward his brothers. “Are those Skiving Snack boxes ready yet?”

“Harry and I have Ancient Runes instead of Divination,” Hermione comments thoughtfully, studying her schedule.

“Bully for you,” Ron states bitterly with envy.

Holly gives Harry an uncertain look.

“Is he horrible?”

Knowing Holly is referring to Snape, Harry says lightly, trying to reassure her: “Nothing we can’t handle.”

Ron whips his head around in horror, having forgotten Holly is there.

“Nah,” he denies, his ears turning red. “Your dad… he’s top class. He’s just really strict.”

Ginny giggles, “Yes. Just ask Neville how strict he is.”

“Hey,” the guy in question frowns, offended.

“Watch out,” Dean warns. “He’s on the move.”

At these words, they all tense.

“False alarm,” Seamus mutters. “He’s heading to the Slytherin table to hand out their schedules.”

Everyone relaxes.

“Harry?” Holly says his name plaintively.

“Yeah?”

“Can you… can you do my hair?”

Lavender, about to leave with Parvati, abruptly sits back down at the little girl’s request.

“Sure,” Harry acquiesces, not looking at anyone. “Do you have a brush or a comb?

“I do,” Lavender exclaims perkily, looking way too interested, digging into her bag and throwing a hairbrush at Harry from across the table.

“Thanks, Lavender,” the bespectacled boy says. To Holly, he asks, “Did you bring a hairband?”

“Oh,” she puts one hand on her forehead. “I left it in my bag. I’ll go get it.”

“It’s okay,” Lavender pipes up yet again. “I have a spare band you can use.”

“Thanks, Lavender,” Harry repeats dryly. “Turn around, Holly.”

Holly straddles the bench with her back to Harry. He thoroughly cleans his hands and does the same behind her, glad Snape is no longer sitting at the Head Table, still handing out class timetables to his Slytherins.

Trying to ignore the scrutiny he is under, Harry gently brushes Holly’s soft hair to eliminate any knots.

 

ooOoo

“Is he brushing her hair?” Tracy exclaims incredulously.

Blaise is left reaching for air instead of the parchment he was actually aiming for as Snape whips around rapidly, hissing a furious “What?” as if Potter is doing something improper. “He’s doing what?”

“Sir?” Blaise tries to get his Housemaster’s attention. “My schedule?”

He is soundly ignored as Snape glares furiously at Potter. Blaise doesn’t understand what is happening between Potter, Snape’s daughter and Draco. His friend had come back to the dorms cursing Potter and spent most of the night fuming, to the point where the other boys had to apply Silencing Charms to their beds to drown him out. Pansy told them this morning that Holly had run to Potter the second she had laid eyes on him, ignoring Draco completely.

Of course, this pissed Draco off fiercely, especially as his father told his son to lay off. Draco’s mood picked up this morning when he told them that Holly would join them at their table for breakfast. Snape had told him that Holly was eager to see him.

Clearly, one of them had made a mistake this morning, and Blaise isn’t going to put his head on the chopping block by suggesting it is the Potions Masters.

“I think he’s doing a French braid,” Tracy comments. “That’s ambitious of him.” 

At their incredulous looks, she flushes but unrepentantly stands her ground, “Well, it is.”

“Sir? May I have my schedule?”  Blaise tries again, standing up and reaching across the table, fingers outstretched. “Please?”

Snape steps away, unknowingly denying his student the timetable once more.

Blaise holds back a huff and wants to comment that Snape is as obsessed with Potter as Draco but refrains from doing so. He’s not suicidal.

 

ooOoo

 

“Morning, all,” Lucius greets, taking a seat next to Minerva, and a chorus of greetings welcomes him in response.

He turns to Minerva while reaching for the coffee. “Care to fill me in?”

It has been a long morning, and classes have not even started yet. Fortunately, he and Dumbledore have made it back just in time for the tail end of breakfast. The Headmaster, having completed his second Fidelius in as many months, though on a much bigger property, had decided to go straight to his office to recuperate, while Lucius immediately had headed for the Great Hall.

“Severus seems out of practice as a spy,” Minerva mutters in an undertone.

Lucius holds back a chuckle. He had said much of the same thing yesterday to Dumbledore. Though Severus cannot spy for Dumbledore within the Dark Lord’s ranks, he still ventures out to aid other Order members - not that he shares with Lucius precisely what his duties are.

Minerva catches him up on the situation so far. The blond holds back another chuckle as the Scottish witch explains Severus’ assumption that Holly only approached Potter because he is a famous celebrity with whom she has become enamoured.

He silently applauds Holly’s cunning, wavering between pride and worry. Severus might have got the wrong end of the wand for now, but the day is still young, and it will not be long before he figures out the truth of the situation.

For an intelligent wizard and a seasoned Slytherin, Severus can be remarkably close-minded. In some ways, the other wizard never grew up or dealt with the negative emotions in life as he should. James and Lily Potter might be dead, but he never lays their ghosts to rest. Until Severus did that, Harry Potter would always field the brunt of those emotions.

Eyeing Potter and Holly sitting amongst the sea of redheads, he hopes they are prepared to weather the storm that is Severus Snape.

“Are you ready to face the day, Lucius?” Minerva enquiries, piercing him with a shrewd look.

Picking up the strange inflexion in her voice but not knowing the reason behind it, Lucius raises a questioning brow.

“No, not at all,” she answers her own question with concern. “I believe you are still unprepared.”

She turns away from him before he can press further.

 

ooOoo

 

“Hi, Luna.” Harry smiles as the Ravenclaw joins them at their table. Pausing with Holly’s partially braided hair in hand, he introduces Luna and Holly to each other.

“Lovely to meet you, Holly,” Luna greets. “Harry talks about you all the time.”

Holly returns the greeting shyly and then asks, a little bit bolder. “Are you Harry’s girlfriend?”

Before Luna can answer, Harry nods vigorously, his cheeks immediately flushing. “She is.”

“Lucky Luna,” Parvati giggles. “You get the benefit of Harry’s hair braiding experience.”

Harry blushes but continues to braid the rest of Holly’s hair.

“It’s not too tight, is it?” he checks on her, but she shakes her head, reassuring him.

“Then stop moving,” he scolds her softly, making her lips curl into a fake pout.

“You kept that skill well hidden, Harry,” Lavender marvels as she watches the Boy-Who-Lived expertly tie a hairband to the end of the braid.

“A hero has many talents,” Fred adds, puffing his chest out.

 George juts his chin up. “One never knows when the skill of French braiding will come in handy.”

“You’re braiding my hair tomorrow,” Lavender announces in a tone that dismisses any further replies.

“Hair by Harry?” Neville jokes. “That’s a costly service.”

“Heroes charge?” Ginny asks ironically.

“Oh, yes,” Dean adds seriously. “Heroes have to make a living too.”

 Colin Creevey, who has crept up to them holding a camera, asks: “Can I take a picture, Harry?”

“Yes, please,” Holly pipes up with a wide smile. “I can add it to my album. I’ve never had my picture taken with a hero before.”

“Merlin, seriously?” Harry grumbles but still gives in to Holly.

He pulls her close, smiling down at the mischievous imp. She reaches up and kisses his cheek just as the camera flashes.

 

ooOoo

“Is Potter having a photoshoot?” Draco jerks incredulously.

That’s it, Severus snaps. Potter will not be exploiting my daughter.

Thrusting the rest of the class schedules to a nearby prefect, growling, “Hand these out,” he marches over to the Gryffindor table to take his daughter back.

 

ooOoo

 

“Should we intervene?” Pomona asks uncertainly, exchanging a glance with Filius, who has returned from handing his Ravens their class timetables.

Lucius and Minerva exchange a look of their own before standing up together. Too late, they watch in astonishment as Severus stops at the Gryffindor table, glares at Minerva’s lions, particularly Potter, snatches Holly from the bench, throws the girl over his shoulder and strides away without another look back.

“Bye, Hero - I mean, Harry,” she calls, waving at Potter, almost making Severus stumble before he continues moving.

Students throw themselves out of the warpath he is on.

“Bye, Holly,” Potter and his group yell out together.

Seeing Holly’s school bag left by her chair, Lucius quickly picks it up.

“I better return this to her,” he throws over his shoulder before leaving via the staff door, heading down to the dungeons.

 

ooOoo

 

Reaching his office, Severus gently deposits an unresisting Holly onto his desk, setting her down, so her legs dangle over the edge. She looks at him innocently, her previously loose hair now tied up neatly in a French braid that Potter somehow knew how to do.

Severus resists the urge to undo Potter’s efforts. How dare that boy touch his daughter?

“Why did you take me away?” she asks, canting her head to the side, studying him closely. “I was having a great time with Harry.”

Severus’ scowl deepens.

“Stay away from Potter,” he orders, giving her a look of warning and rebuke at the same time.

“No,” she says, crossing her arms across her chest. “He’s my friend, and he said I could hang with him anytime.”

“Potter is only using you to get better grades,” he warns, looming over her. “Believe me, child, that boy will use you and throw you away when he gets tired of you.”

“You don’t know him like I do,” Holly retorts with a mulish look, standing up on his desk, glaring at him. Had she been a head taller, she would be practically nose-to-nose with him. 

Severus scoffs and shakes his head. One breakfast where the boy caters to her whims, and she thinks she knows him. If he didn’t know any better, he would imagine the boy Confunded her. It’s only because Potter doesn’t have the skills to cast a Confundus that he knows it isn’t true.

“I know him a damn sight better than you do,” he grinds out. “I have taught him for four years. Potter is a mediocre student, putting no effort into his schoolwork. If he thinks cosying up to you will earn him better grades, I’ll soon put him in his place.”

“Harry’s not a cheater,” Holly defends. “He’s a hard worker, and you never give him fair marks.”

Severus steps back, pinching the bridge of his nose to stave off the headache he feels coming. Dear Merlin, the boy has his hooks into her already. Over one breakfast!

Before he can reply to that, a knock sounds at his door.

“Enter!” he snaps.

Lucius’ blond head peeps through the door.

“You left your bag up there, my darling,” he states, holding up said bag.

Holly jumps off the desk and runs up to Lucius, throwing her arms around his waist, ignoring the bag completely. Lucius protectively places an empty hand around her head.

“Have you been yelling at my goddaughter?” Lucius admonishes Severus over her head.

“He’s being nasty,” she complains, her voice muffled as her face is pressed against Lucius’ body. “He’s telling me to stay away from Harry.”

“Talk some sense into her, Lucius,” Severus sighs. “Tell her the truth, that Potter is only using her.”

Before Lucius can speak, Holly moves away from the blond, facing Severus completely.

“Harry is my brother. He’s not using me, and I know him better than you do. You’re the horrible one. You-”

“Holly!” Lucius tries to stop her, holding her by the arm as if to prevent her from throwing herself at her father, but by now, the damage is done.

Severus’ brows snap together in outrage.

Brother? The boy dare insinuate himself into his daughter’s life?

 

ooOoo

 

“Is Dobby all right?” Hermione asks as Harry slips into his seat next to her.

The class started ten minutes ago, but Harry made a quick trip to the kitchens to check on his House-Elf friend before History of Magic.

“He’s fine. He said Dumbeldore’d assigned a House Elf to Malfoy, so Dobby doesn’t have to go anywhere near him.”

Hermione gives a relieved nod before turning back to diligently taking notes. She is the only one who manages to stay awake through Binn’s lecture. The decrepit ghost hadn’t even noticed Harry’s late entry into the room.

Harry pulls out his history book and notes Iris had given him years ago. After reviewing his history texts, the elder witch declared that Binn’s lectures were always the same and said he should use the standard notes she had filed carefully. Harry had been diligently using these notes ever since. He shared them with his friends, but Hermione preferred to use her own.

Conversely, the end of the usually dull class comes too soon, and the Gryffindors all exchange glances of trepidation as they head towards the dungeons. Breakfast hadn’t been too bad, though Harry and his friends speculated that Snape hadn’t quite twigged why Holly was so familiar with the Boy-Who-Lived.

It still means that Potions will be a fraught class. Though he had grown much more confident since joining Harry’s friends during their third year, Neville is still shaking as they head towards the Potions. Though more distant than usual because of their semi-altercation on the train, Seamus shares their anxiety.

“What do you think he’ll be like?” Dean asks in a hushed voice.

“Worse than usual,”  Ron replies grimly, though his voice is still hushed.

No one misses the looks the other students throw at Harry. Snape’s animosity towards Potter and everything related to him is well-known within the school. No matter that very few people know about Harry and Holly’s actual relationship, no matter what, it looked like Holly was the one who instigated the conversation at breakfast; they all knew that Snape’s hatred for Harry Potter is unrelenting. And those who saw how Snape snatched Holly away from Harry know nothing will change.

“Listen,” Harry begins, halting just before entering the dungeons. “I’ll sit at the front by myself. Everyone else should stay away. Snape’s bound to use any excuse to take points, and none of you should get caught up in that.”

They all look at each other in silence for several seconds and then speak simultaneously.

“Don’t be daft,” Ron says as Neville nods his head in agreement.

“We’re not sure what’s going on,” Parvati speaks up for the first time, “but Dean said Holly is important to you. And we saw how you were at breakfast with her. Are you sure she’s Snape’s daughter? She’s too…”

“Good-natured?” Dean supplies as Parvati trails off.

“Sweet?” Neville adds with a grin.

 Lavender smiles. “Cute?”

“Adorable,” Parvati finishes.

Harry feels his heart fill with joy, hearing the qualities his comrades listed. Holly is all of those. She’s also his little monster.

As they continue their slow walk to the Potions, it’s decided that Neville will sit next to Harry. He still thinks he’s better off sitting alone, but none of the others agrees to let that happen.

The Slytherins are already waiting outside the Potions classroom, curiously quiet, observing Harry.

Draco doesn’t miss the chance to extract information and spits out as soon as Harry is close enough, “What do you think you’re playing at, Potter?”

Harry wonders what’s different about Malfoy, and then he realises.

“Where are your bookends?” he blurts out.

This makes Draco even more furious.

“Back off, Malfoy,” Ron snarls at the other.

Nott and Zabini pull Draco back to the blond’s displeasure, giving him an unreadable look.

Before he can make another move, the classroom door clangs open.

Silently, they enter the classroom, Snape’s furious gaze boring into the back of Harry’s skull.

“Hiya, Harry,” Holly waves cheerily at him.

Harry smiles, despite the situation and waves back.

Everyone else gets a small smile. When Draco calls out, “Hey, Holly.” He scowls, not receiving the same personal greeting Harry got.

Snape slams the door shut, making them all flinch.

“Settle down,” he says coldly.

There was no real need for the call to order; the moment the class had heard the door close, quiet had fallen, and all fidgeting stopped. Snape’s mere presence is usually enough to ensure a class’s silence.

“Before we begin today’s lesson,” Snape begins, sweeping over to his desk to stand behind Holly and staring around at them all, “I think it is appropriate to remind you that next June you will be sitting an important examination, during which you will prove how much you have learned about the composition and use of magical potions. Moronic though some of this class undoubtedly are, I expect you to scrape an “Acceptable” in your OWLs or suffer my… displeasure.”

His gaze lingers this time on Neville, who gulps.

“After this year, of course, many of you will cease studying with me,” Snape continues. “I take only the very best into my NEWT Potions class, which means that some of you will certainly be saying goodbye.”

His eyes rest on Harry, and his lip curls.

Harry glares back, feeling a grim pleasure at the idea that he would be able to give up Potions after fifth year. He flicks a quick look to Holly, who looks at him encouragingly, a fact that does not go unnoticed by Snape. He already planned to go down the Independent Study route if he decides to take Potions at NEWT levels. Snape will never mark him fairly in class, but at least the other wizard has no hand in determining his Potions OWL. Iris believed in Harry; she thought him capable of scoring an Outstanding - and that’s what really matters to him.

“But we have another year to go before that happy moment of farewell,” Snape counters, “so, whether or not you are intending to attempt NEWT, I advise all of you to concentrate your efforts upon maintaining the high pass level I have come to expect from my OWL students.

“Today, we will be mixing a potion that often comes up at Ordinary Wizarding Level: the Draught of Peace, a potion to calm anxiety and soothe agitation. Be warned: if you are too heavy-handed with the ingredients, you will put the drinker into a heavy and sometimes irreversible sleep, so you will need to pay close attention to what you are doing.”

On Harry’s left, Hermione sits up a little straighter, her expression one of utmost attention.

“The ingredients and method –“ Snape flicks his wand “– are on the blackboard –” (they appear there)”‘– you will find everything you need –” he flicks his wand again “– in the store cupboard –“ (the door of the said cupboard springs open) “– you have an hour and a half… start.”

The ingredients have to be added to the cauldron in precisely the right order and quantities; the mixture has to be stirred exactly the right number of times, firstly in clockwise, then in anti-clockwise directions; the heat of the flames on which it is simmering have to be lowered to exactly the right level for a specific number of minutes before the final ingredient is added.

“A light silver vapour should now be rising from your potion,” calls Snape, with ten minutes left to go.

Harry, who is sweating profusely, looks desperately around the dungeon. His own cauldron is issuing copious amounts of dark grey steam; Ron’s is spitting green sparks. Seamus is feverishly prodding the flames at the base of his cauldron with the tip of his wand, as they seem to be going out. The surface of Hermione’s potion, however, is a shimmering mist of silver vapour, and as Snape sweeps by he looks down his hooked nose at it without comment, which means he could find nothing to criticise. At Harry’s cauldron, however, Snape stops and looks down at it with a horrible smirk on his face.

“Potter, what is this supposed to be?”

The Slytherins at the front of the class all look up cautiously; usually, they love hearing Snape taunt Harry, but they seem curiously subdued.

“The Draught of Peace,” replies Harry tensely, trying not to look at Holly.

“Tell me, Potter,” asks Snape softly, “can you read?”

Draco Malfoy laughs, looking in Holly’s direction for her reaction.

“Yes, I can,” says Harry.

“Read the third line of the instructions for me, Potter.”

Harry squints at the blackboard; it is not easy to make out the instructions through the haze of multi-coloured steam now filling the dungeon.

“Add powdered moonstone, stir three times counter-clockwise, allow to simmer for seven minutes then add two drops of syrup of hellebore.”’

His heart sinks.

He has not added syrup of hellebore, but has proceeded straight to the fourth line of the instructions after allowing his potion to simmer for seven minutes.

“Did you do everything on the third line, Potter?”

“No,” Harry responds very quietly.

“I beg your pardon?”

“No,” repeats Harry, more loudly. “I forgot the hellebore.”

“I know you did, Potter, which means that this mess is utterly worthless. Evanesco.”

The contents of Harry’s potion vanish, and he is left standing foolishly beside an empty cauldron.

“‘Those of you who have managed to read the instructions, fill one flagon with a sample of your potion, label it clearly with your name and bring it up to my desk for testing,” orders Snape. “Homework: twelve inches of parchment on the properties of moonstone and its uses in potion-making, to be handed in on Thursday.”

While everyone around him fills their flagons, Harry clears away his things, seething. Holly looks between the board and Harry in dismay, whilst Snape stalks around the classroom with a triumphant smirk.

His potion is no worse than Ron’s, which is now giving off a foul odour of bad eggs; or Neville’s, which has achieved the consistency of just-mixed cement and which Neville is now having to gouge out of his cauldron; yet it is he, Harry, who would be receiving zero marks for the day’s work. He stuffs his wand back into his bag and slumps down onto his seat, watching everyone else march up to Snape’s desk with filled and corked flagons.

Harry is the first to leave the classroom, not wanting Holly to see him angry.

“That was really unfair,” Hemione says consolingly as they exit the dungeons.

Before Harry can tell Hermione to leave the topic alone, Holly comes rushing up to him.

“Harry, you need to come to the Hospital Wing with me,” Holly says before Harry can tell her to go back to Snape.

He instantly forgets his irritation with the Potions Master and drops to his knees, examining her as he lets his bag fall at his feet.

“What? Why? Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”

“Please,” she begs, pulling on his hand desperately, “please just come with me.”

“Yeah, come on. Yeah. Hermione – would you-?”

 Hermione agrees without question. “I’ll let Professor Snape know.”

Harry picks up Holly, who holds him tightly. Heart hammering, he races to the Hospital Wing, uncaring of the people in the way. He’s unaware of the rest of his friends and Housemates who have followed him up.

“Madam Pomfrey,” Harry yells upon entering the Hospital Wing, opening the doors with more force than necessary in his worry.

The Medi-witch comes out of her office with a look of alarm.

“Mt Potter, what is it?” she asks, brandishing her wand.

“I don’t know,” he says, panicking. “Holly said she needed the Hospital Wing.”

He gently tries to place her on one of the beds, but she stands on it instead.

“It’s not for me,” Holly denies instantly. “It’s Harry who needs your help.”

It takes Harry precious seconds to calm down and understand.

“What?” he asks, somewhat breathlessly.

Holly explains to Madam Pomfrey, “Harry missed something from the board.” Turning back to Harry, she continues, “You’re not an idiot. You’re not careless. I know you’re not. You wouldn’t have misread the board if there wasn’t something wrong. I brought you up here so Aunt Poppy could check your eyes.”

Harry gapes at his sister, feeling frustration rise.

Taking a deep breath to bite down on his rising irritation, he snaps, “You idiot. I thought something was wrong.”

Pulling her into a tight hug, he feels his throat closing up, and he manages to choke out, “I thought you were hurt.”

“I’m sorry, Harry,” Holly’s muffled voice comes from his neck.

“Don’t you dare do that again,” he warns, pulling away. “Twit.”

“You’re the twit,” she snipes back. “You should have got your eyes checked before.”

Madam Pomfrey, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, clears her throat pointedly, “I assume there is no emergency any longer?”

Harry feels the heat rising in his neck.

“I’m sorry, Madam Pomfrey,” he apologises sheepishly. “I thought Holly –”

Madam Pomfrey’s expression softens at his upset.

“It’s quite alright, Mr Potter,” she waves away his apology. “In fact, your prompt action is admirable, notwithstanding your own excellent healing skills.”

Harry blushes even more. Last year, due to having to compete in the Tournament, Harry had spent a lot of time in the Hospital Wing with Madam Pomfrey, learning Field Healing, in case he needed it, as well as learning Defensive Magic for the tasks.

“Thank you,” he mumbles.

“Now,” the medi-witch says brusquely, “Take a seat and let’s have a look at your prescription.”

Harry, about to sit down next to Holly, is startled when the Infirmary door bangs open suddenly. Holly grabs his hand, and Harry pats it calmingly.

This is what Madam Pomfrey felt when I stormed in, Harry thinks wryly as he turns to face a furious Snape.

“Sir,” Harry begins, hoping to explain.

“Silence,” Snape hisses as he stalks closer.

Harry doesn’t miss the look he gives Holly or how his lips press together when the Potions Masters sees them holding hands. Noticing this, a smile makes its way to his face. Since Snape found Holly, Harry has been worried about his sister, despite Regulus’ assurances that Snape really cares about his daughter.

Seeing Snape here, rushing to the Hospital Wing after thinking Holly might have been hurt, pleases Harry, assuring him that Snape really would look after her.

Snape, catching a glimpse of his smile and misinterpreting it, turns his fuming gaze on Harry.

“What did you do, you insolent boy?” Severus questions with tightly controlled fury.

“Sir? I didn’t –”

Snape moves faster than Harry expects, pushing Madam Pomfrey aggressively out of the way, then reaching out to wrench Harry’s hand away from Holly.

“You dare touch my daughter, Potter?”

“Professor –” Harry begins to protest but is cut off once more.

Holly tries to intervene, denying everything her father accuses him of, but Snape unthinkingly pushes Holly back. Angered, Harry shoves at Snape.

“Don’t touch her -” whatever Harry is about to say is lost when Snape grabs a handful of Harry’s robes in both fists, clutching so tightly his shirt rides up from his trousers.

“She’s mine, Potter,” Snape roars, spittle flying. Harry finds himself pushed backwards until his back is against the window. He shakes Harry so violently that it’s difficult to draw breath. Harry, face twisted in a snarl of his own, tries to fight back, but Snape is too strong, too powerful from the wrath that burns him from within, and his anger is ferocious right now. Snape’s wand is on him without the boy being able to do anything to prevent it.

“Stop! Stop hurting him!” Holly cries out, but she is prevented from interfering and risking injury by Dean, who Harry wasn’t aware had followed him up.

Several voices call out, “Professor!”

Harry darts a quick glance in Holly’s direction, which enrages Snape even more. He shoves Harry back so forcefully that his head cracks the window, and pain radiates at the back of his skull.

 Madam Pomfrey shrieks in horror. “Severus Snape!”

“Harry!”

The last thing Harry sees before darkness descends is an arm wrapped around Snape’s torso, the Potions Master’s horrified look and Holly rushing toward him with a worried expression.

 

 

Chapter End Notes:
Well, our dear Potions Master certainly started off a little dense and a little oblivous. What can I say? He started off the day on a high, basking in his daughter’s love only to come down with a crash.
Well, you know – I think we all saw THAT reaction coming. He was a bit unhinged, wouldn’t you say?
Anyway, I just wanted to impart some information, give you all some teasers for the upcoming chapters. Things that will be addressed at some point or another in the story. The reason for this is, as I’ve been working on chapter 23, I realised that a lot happens over the first week and it’s all spread across at least 5 or 6 chapters. I’m trying to keep the chapters similar in length and for the most part you’ll have chapter around the 8-10k word mark, sometimes even more than that.
As this is a slow burn, I’m going to adding a lot of back story and internal monologues – apologies if thats boring or repititive – I’m desperately trying to keep that stuff at a minimum. And if that doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, feel free to exit out of this story. I won’t be offended but please don’t feel the need to announce your exit either.
For those who want to continue, please see below points that will be addressed- though the astute readers will have picked up on some of these going already.
- Lucius teaching DADA and clashing with the Weasleys- you know that’s going to happen and I’ve always felt like few fics actually address the whole Diary situation
- Lucius and Dobby – ditto the diary thing – I have a wonderful backstory (IMHO) that I can’t wait to drop into the fic at some point further down the lie.
- Dudley will also feature more in the story in further chapters, as will other supporting characters such as Neville, Dean and Lavender
- The Slytherin children from an earlier chapter will also make regular appearances
- More on Ron, Hermione and Sirius’s issues with Holly will be revealed
- The tension between Weasleys and Malfoys, both at HQ (because don’t forget – Narcissa has moved into Grimmauld Place) and at Hogwarts
- Lucius’s burgeoning curiosity on muggle sports
- Draco and his jealousy of Harry and Holly’s relationship
- Lucius and McGonagall’s developing professional relationship- they will both learn from each other
- Ongoing Sirius and Regulus issues
- Umbridge will return at some point – did you really think she was out of the story just because Lucius is the DADA teacher?
- My twist on why Lucius dropped the diary on the Weasleys in first place
- And of course, the developing mentor relationship between Harry & Severus and Harry and Lucius, Harry & Regulus

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