average human’s Reviews > Veritaserum > Status Update

“Hello,” he smiled at them all. “Harry, I wondered if I could talk to you for a moment?”

“Sure,” Harry said, looking up at him. “What’s up?”

Diggory cleared his throat and shoved his hands deep in his pockets.

“I wanted to apologize,” he said. “For the Quidditch game. It wasn’t fair how it ended and I should have apologized sooner.”

Harry grit his teeth at the reminder of the whole school seeing him faint and fall off his broom.

“‘Kay,” he said tightly. “That it?”

Diggory frowned.

“I tried to tell Madame Hooch we should have a rematch, even set up a day with Flint, but she wouldn’t let us.”

“‘Kay.”

“Are you-“ Diggory looked uncertainly at the other students. “Are you mad? Because I truly am sorry.”

“I believe you,” Harry said. “But it doesn’t mean anything, does it?”

“I-“ Diggory hesitated as he considered what Harry said. “I suppose you’re right. I don’t think there is anything I can say to make up for it. Maybe I’ll just cheer for you to win the upcoming Ravenclaw game then.”

“You do that,” Harry snorted. “I’ll be cheering for you to lose against Gryffindor next weekend so we can beat them in the finals.”

Diggory laughed and gave Harry another smile.

“We’ll see,” he said. “I should get back to my friends, I just wanted to apologize but next time I’ll come prepared, alright?”

“‘Kay.”

Harry turned his attention back to his essay he was painstakingly writing for McGonagall as Diggory walked away.

“He’s very handsome you know,” Susan giggled. “Lots of girls in Hufflepuff are always trying to talk to him.”

“Including you?” Draco asked with a smirk.

“Ugh,” Susan crinkled her nose. “He’s too... too nice for me. Almost seems fake, you know?”

“Let me get this straight-“ Blaise put down his quill in favor of joining Draco and Susan’s hushed conversation. “You want to date someone who thinks you’re dangerous, and who isn’t too nice?”

“Yep,” Susan nodded her head. “Probably good looking and smart as well.”

“I’ll only date someone smart,” Draco said. “Imagine trying to make a conversation with someone like Goyle for the rest of your life?” He shuddered dramatically.

“Pretty girl with a head full of air?” Blaise winked at Susan who rolled her eyes. “Sounds like the ticket to me. What about you Harry?”

“What about me what?” Harry said.

“What’s your ideal girlfriend or boyfriend?” Draco asked.

“I dunno.” Harry tried to consider someone he would like to spend time with alone, like how Theo and Hermione always did. “I suppose... just someone who likes me for me, yeah?”

“That’s your only requirement?” Draco said. “That they like you for you?”

“Well it’s fuckin’ rare innit?” Harry said defensively. “People usually either like me cause I’m famous or cause of some other daft reason like being the Heir of Slytherin. So yeah, it’d be brill if they were good looking and smart, but mostly I just want them to like me for me.”

Draco slumped back at the heat in Harry’s voice and offered him an apologetic look.

“You’re right, I’m sorry. We-“ he gestured towards Blaise and Susan, “-all like you for you. Just so you know.”

“Thanks Dray,” Harry felt a faint heat trying to work its way up his neck at his words. “I suppose you aren’t so bad yourself.”

Draco stuck his tongue out at him and they all laughed at the juvenile gesture from the usually uptight Malfoy Heir.

Harry thought more about dates, and dating, and boyfriends, and girlfriends, as he wrote his essay. He wasn’t blind or stupid, he had seen how his classmates had started making softer eyes towards one another and how there seemed to be more kids holding hands and girls giggling in the halls than there used to be. He figured it was to be expected as everyone was getting older and ‘full of hormones’ (as Snape would say).

Harry had never actually dated anyone or ever been on a date with anyone. He’d been with men before. Back when he was on the streets and he was cold, or sick, or starving. It was horrible, and usually hurt both physically or mentally as he felt humiliated on his knees before. He knew that those times were just a means to an end, a way to offer something in exchange for food or shelter for a night. But dates? Confessions of love? Holding hands and kissing? It was an entirely different thing. And he didn’t understand it at all.



The next morning during breakfast Harry was surprised to see a little brown owl fly straight to him during post and drop off a parchment.

“Who’s that from?” Neville asked curiously.

“Dunno.”

Harry opened it and quickly read it.

Hey Pup!
Moony said you have a Hogsmeade weekend coming up tomorrow and I wanted to know if you’d want to grab a drink at the Three Broomsticks with me? You could bring your friends if you’d like. I’d say it’s my treat but apparently since we’re sharing a vault, it’s our treat.
Hopefully I’ll see you tomorrow, let’s say at two o’clock? If you don’t show then I’ll cry, but no pressure.
-Sirius

Harry unwillingly grinned at Black’s stupid joke about crying if Harry didn’t show up tomorrow.

“It’s Black,” he said as he handed Susan’s nosy self the letter. “Wants to know if we want to get a drink with him tomorrow at the Three Broomsticks, says it’s his treat. If I go, anyone wanna go with?”

Everyone except Blaise and Neville eagerly agreed.

“Can’t,” Blaise grinned. “I’ve got a hot date with a gorgeous twin.”

“You’re going with Ron’s brother?” Harry was surprised, and oddly annoyed, by this news.

“What? No! Merlin Harry. There’s more than just one set of twins in this castle.”

Everyone else laughed so hard that the other Slytherins and nearby Ravenclaws were peering curiously at them.

“Oh,” Harry shrugged. “I don’t know any other twins. Who is it then?”

“Padma Patil, she’s in our year,” Hermione said. “Honestly Harry sometimes I wonder if you even know our names or not.”

“Well I see you guys every day, don’t I?” Harry said before looking towards Neville who also turned down his offer for tomorrow. “D’you have a date too?”

“N-no,” Neville stammered, turning blood red at the sudden interested attention of their group. “I’m not going to Hogsmeade. I told Luna I’d help her study for her Herbology test next week.”

“Neville is a good friend,” Luna said. “The plants just speak to him more than they do me.”

“I’d rather have the nargles than plants,” Ron assured her. “Unless they have a plant that can tell the future?”

“No, they don’t,” Theo rolled his eyes at Ron’s newly disappointed look. “What are you guys even learning in Divination?”

“Mostly that Harry’s going to die young in a painfully tragic way,” Ron said with a half-smile. “And that Trelawney is a sherry loving fraud.”

Everyone was still snickering about that as the bell rang indicating the start of classes soon. Harry thought about Black’s offer through his morning classes and decided that he’d check with Snape before making any decisions on it after their evening potions lesson.

Snape seemed to be in a good mood during their lesson. He yelled at Finnigan a few times, awarded Harry and Draco twenty points for their perfect potion, and only assigned two feet of homework instead of his usual three or four.

Harry lingered by his desk after everyone else left at the end of class to ask about Black’s letter.

“What can I help you with?” Snape asked after the last student left the room.

“Here.” Harry handed him the letter and waited as Snape quickly read it.

“I know you and I are considered to be friends, but I do not believe I was invited,” Snape said drily as he returned the parchment to Harry.

Harry grinned at the look on Black’s face if he brought Snape tomorrow and shook his head.

“No sir, I was just wondering if you thought I should go?”

Snape sat back in his chair and steepled his hands together on his desk.

“Why would you ask me that?” he asked Harry curiously.

“Er, well... I know you guys don’t hate each other so much anymore... but... but I didn’t know if you’d be mad or something if I went?”

Between the Mind Healer and Snape Harry was starting to realize that people and their feelings apparently mattered quite a bit more than he used to think and he thought maybe Snape’s would be hurt if he went to see Black tomorrow.

“I will not be mad, upset, or any other negative emotion if you go see Black tomorrow,” Snape said, reading through Harry’s question easily. “He is your godfather and you are welcome to spend as much time with him as you would like.”

Harry chewed on his bottom lip as he watched Snape carefully for any tells that would give away his real thoughts on the matter. After a few moments of Snape looking perfectly at ease Harry nodded, figuring he wasn’t lying.

“Brill. Ron, Draco, Susan, Mione, and Theo said they’d go with me then.”

“Do you not have any other friends you’re accompanying tomorrow?” Snape asked.

“Er- no?”

Snape’s eyes looked amused at Harry’s answer.

“I was under the impression that a Mister Fred Weasley was going to accompany you to Hogsmeade. I confiscated an interesting note between him and his brother as he debated on the best way to ask you.”

“Son of a bitch,” Harry hissed in Parsletongue. “Not you too!” he said to Snape. “I swear everyone’s obsessed with dates right now. Blaise has a date, Mione and Theo are dating, Fred asked me on a date. I don’t...” Harry grimaced as he realized the real problem he had with it all. “I don’t understand it,” he admitted quietly. “Mione said dates are to get to know someone but how d’you even know if you want to get to know them?”

“Hmm,” Snape tapped his chin thoughtfully as he considered Harry’s question. “Perhaps you should ask Black that tomorrow. I am afraid that dating and romance are quite out of my area of expertise.”

“You don’t date?” Harry asked.

“I have,” Snape said slowly. “Though not as much as others. And not any in recent years. I believe Mister Morris would say I have difficulty with commitment.”

“You committed to me just fine,” he pointed out.

“And look how that turned out.”

Harry grinned at Snape’s sarcastic tone when he said that.

“Did you date anyone when you were a student?”

“A couple of people,” Snape said evasively. “Though I was rather pathetically in love with your mother, so the people I dated quickly ended it once they realized they were only poor substitutes.”

“How- er- how d’you... what- what does it mean to be in love with someone?” Harry blushed hotly at the odd question, but figured that Snape was the best person to ask since he didn’t usually laugh when he knew Harry was being serious.

“Loving someone is quite different from being in love with someone,” Snape said, politely ignoring Harry’s red face. “You can love someone and care about their well-being and appreciate them for their own unique traits. This could be a family member or friend. Being in love with someone is more of a romantic feeling. Does that make sense?”

“No,” Harry admitted. “Not really.”

Snape sighed, “Ask Black if you must. He will likely have a much more clear response.”

“I’ll think about it,” Harry said. He knew Snape wouldn’t laugh or take the mickey out of him for the dumb question, but he didn’t trust Black like that.

“I should get to the library,” he said regretfully.

“Of course,” Snape said. “If you do decide to see Black tomorrow I would enjoy hearing how it went, if you would like to come see me afterwards.”

“Alright,” Harry agreed easily. He thought of something he forgot to ask before, “Sir?”

“Yes?”

“What’d you do when you took the note from Fred and George?”

Snape smirked in a maliciously amused sort of way that reminded Harry that the man was the Head of Slytherin for a reason.

“I took thirty points from Gryffindor and informed him you would prefer a the huge spectacle that he was debating on. Pity he apparently had not believed me. I was hoping for another singing Dwarf.”

“Bastard!” Harry hadn’t forgotten the mortifying dwarf from Valentine’s Day his second year. “You’re lucky he just asked me at breakfast or I’d have to get revenge sir.”

“Pity,” Snape repeated without looking sorry at all. “Perhaps I will encourage him to try again.”

“I’ll remember this,” Harry warned him. “Next time I see Neville about to add the wrong ingredient I’ll just let him blow up the cauldron.”

Snape grimaced at Harry’s threat.

“Truce,” he said.

“Truce,” Harry agreed. “I’ll come see you tomorrow, yeah?”

“Bring me back sugar quills!” Snape yelled after him. Harry laughed at Snape’s cheerful mood clear to the library. It was unusual to see him acting so ridiculous, but maybe the lack of dementors improved everyone’s mood in the castle.



The next morning after breakfast, Harry and his friends bundled up and prepared for their trip.

“I have to take Ron on an important errand so we’ll meet you guys at the Three Broomsticks at two,” Harry told their other friends as they split up at the village gates.

Theo and Hermione were going on another date and Draco and Susan were meeting up with Daphne Greengrass, Hannah Abbott, and a couple other students in their year to walk around the village.

“What’s the errand?” Ron asked as Harry pulled him alongside him towards their destination.

“Surprise,” Harry said shortly with a small grin.

“Hope it’s warm,” Ron shivered dramatically at the frigid temps. “I dunno how you guys are gonna play Ravenclaw next weekend.”

Harry rolled his eyes at Ron and pulled on his core lightly, Warm us up.

“Oh. Duh.” The tips of Ron’s ears turned red and he ruffled his hair self consciously. “Forgot about magic for a minute, didn’t I?”

“Prat,” Harry said fondly. “C’mon, it’s just up here!”

“‘The Mage’s Meow Pet Shoppe’?” Ron asked quizzically. “Our errand is in a pet store?”

“Yep.” Harry pulled Ron inside and gestured towards the many different sections of the store. “Happy early birthday!”

“I... I don’t get it.”

“I’m getting you a new pet!” Harry said. “I know you miss Scabbers, even if he was a disgusting little rat-man, and thought maybe you’d want a new one.”

Harry had thought it was a brilliant idea and the perfect way to cheer up his friend but the longer Ron stared at him the more he questioned his idea.

“‘M sorry,” he eventually mumbled as Ron still stared. “It was stupid... let’s just go...”

“Wait-“ Ron stuck his arm out and stopped Harry without touching him. “Harry I’m just- just surprised. Nobody else even cared that my rat was gone. Even Percy said ‘it’s just a pet Ronald’ when I told him about it.”

Harry shrugged, “Well Percy’s a git, isn’t he? I’d be upset if Sevvie turned out to be an animagus on the run.” He was actually still disappointed to have lost Grim, but he tried not to think about that because it made him want to curse Black every time he remembered the dog he befriended.

Ron gave Harry one of his lopsided grins and looked around at all the different sections of pets.

“What do you think I should get?”

“Not a rat,” Harry said. “They’re disgusting.”

Ron laughed and eyed the section of owls.

“Cmon, come help me find a pet that isn’t a madman.”

Harry and Ron spent a happy couple of hours holding, petting, and arguing over the best pet. Harry tried to convince him to get a snake when he heard one of them complaining about the store.

“It’sssss cold,” the little black snake hissed.

“Sorry,” Harry hissed back. “I’ll tell the shopkeeper.”

Ron shook his head and backed away from the tank of snakes that were all now hissing their complaints to Harry.

“I don’t want a pet that only you can talk to,” he said. “I’d be like a permanent third wheel.”

Harry shrugged as he stroked and admired the snakes that were all slithering on top of each other for his attention.

Apparently Ron also didn’t want a cat (“They’re boring,” he said) or a spider (Ron actually turned pale at the tank of them).

“I think an owls your best bet,” Harry said.

They went back and forth for a while over different owls when Ron finally picked a little one that looked like Sevvie but with grey feathers instead of black.

“He’s so cute,” a nearby Gryffindor girl squealed.

Ron rolled his eyes, but looked pleased as he pet the owl that perched on his shoulder.

“He’s perfect,” Ron said.

“Wait! Reveal yourself,” Harry ordered the owl with a harsh pull of magic. The owl hooted indignantly as the spell ruffled its feathers but otherwise didn’t change at all.

“Not an animagus then,” Harry declared. “So yep, he’s perfect.”

Ron grinned happily as they grabbed owl supplies for the little grey owl that Ron dubbed ‘Galvin’. He tried naming it ‘Chudley’ after his favorite Quidditch team but Harry said it sounded too much like Dudley so he went with Galvin, the teams keepers name, instead.

When Harry paid for the supplies he told the shopkeeper about the snakes complaints.

“They said it’s cold in here,” he said. “And they don’t like frozen mice, they want fresh ones.”

“I’ll k-keep that in m-mind,” the shopkeeper said with a terrified look on his face.

Harry assumed that a person who worked with snakes every day wouldn’t be so scared of Parsletongue. Clearly he was wrong.

“You mind if I run Galvin up to the castle?” Ron said when they left the store. “I don’t think Madame Rosmerta will be happy if I bring him with us.”

“Course not,” Harry said. “I gotta go get stuff for Snape and Lue anyway.”

“Thanks again mate,” Ron said happily. “You’re a good friend.”

Harry smiled to himself all the way to Honeydukes. Snape acted like Harry was so bad at other people’s emotions, but look at what he did, cheered Ron right up. Hopefully he even changed Ron’s boggart. How could someone be scared of their friend that helped them pick out a cute little owl? He made a mental note to tell Snape about it later today. He’d probably rub it in a bit.

Harry wasted a little bit of time snagging sweets for Luna and a thing of sugar quills for Snape. He scowled at the Pup Treats he had gotten Grim last time he was there and tried to push the whole embarrassing incident out of his head. He checked the time after he paid and saw it was still rather early, only a quarter after one, but decided heading towards the Three Broomsticks was better than standing around in the snow.

He entered the pub and shook the snow out of his hair. He made to sit at the counter, planning on ordering something to snack on while he waited, when someone yelled his name.

“Harry! Over here!”

He glanced around and saw Black and Lupin were seated in a booth off to the side. He felt his shoulders tense up and rolled them a few times as he slowly walked over to them.

“Come sit,” Black smiled as he moved so Harry could have the corner seat with the view of the door. “You’re early,” he said happily.

“Cold out, ain’t it?” Harry shrugged.

“Where are your friends?” Lupin asked politely.

“They’ll be here in a bit,” Harry said. “Ron took his new owl up to the castle and everyone else had plans ‘til two.”

“Ron got a new owl?” Black said. “Good. I felt guilty when I realized Pettigrew going to Azkaban meant that Ron lost his pet.”

“I remembered,” Harry said, preening slightly with how pleased with himself he was. “Told him I’d buy him any pet he wanted as an early birthday gift.”

“Good job Pup,” Black smiled.

Lupin smiled as well as he got to his feet.

“I’m gonna go, I’ve got lessons to plan and papers to grade.”

Harry politely turned his head as the two said goodbye and raised his hand cordially when Lupin left.

“He doesn’t really have anything to do,” Sirius said. “He’s just being nice because he knew I wanted to spend time with you.”

“Why?”

Black looked confused at his question and scrunched his brows down.

“Why was he being nice or why did I want to spend time with you?”

“Why’d you wanna spend time with me,” Harry clarified.

“Because you’re my godson,” Black said. “And I want to get to know you better.”

Harry grimaced as he thought of all the things about himself Black already knew.

“What d’you wanna know?”

“Everything,” Black laughed. “What’s your favorite color?”

“What’s yours?” Harry shot back.

“Gold,” he said.

“Mines green.”

“Favorite class?”

“You first,” Harry said with a small grin.

“Mine was Transfiguration,” Black said grinning as well. “I was a right dab at it and Minnie loved me.”

“Minnie?”

“Professor McGonagall, she hated being called Minnie so your Dad and I did it every day.”

Harry laughed as he imagined McGonagalls face if someone were to call her that.

“Mines Potions,” he admitted.

“Because Snape teaches it?” Black asked as he waved down Madame Rosmerta.

Harry shook his head, “Because I have to actually work, don’t I? It’s not easy like all my other classes.”

“Hold that thought Pup,” Black said as Rosmerta sauntered over to their table.

“Sirius Black,” she smiled. “What can I do for you now?”

“Are you still pretending that you aren’t madly in love with me?” Black said with a charming sort of smile. “Because if so then I guess we just want to order something to eat and some drinks. But if not then I’m ready to propose.”

Rosmerta laughed and drew a few jealous eyes their way as she batted at Black’s arm.

“You’re a rascal,” she said. “I think a certain Professor would be jealous if we did.”

“You’re right,” Black said solemnly. “Minerva would never forgive me if I ran away with you.”

“He’s incorrigible,” Rosmerta said to Harry. “A terrible flirt, isn’t he?”

Rosmerta’s eyes were glittering in a way that made him think she liked the attention. Harry figured Black was good looking enough to catch her eye. His long dark hair, leather jacket, and happy go lucky personality had a certain appeal to it probably.

“If you say so,” Harry muttered as he slumped down in his seat and glanced around the room warily. He could feel the curious stares of the other patrons and hated it.

“Can we get a few orders of chips?” Black said. “And- Harry how many kids are coming?”

“Five others,” Harry said.

“And seven butterbeers,” Black added. “You can just add it all to my tab.”

“Cheers,” Rosmerta said with another wink as she swept off to fill their order.

Black turned back to Harry with an easy smile that Harry was beginning to suspect was permanently attached to the man’s face.

“Where were we?” he said. “Oh! Yeah, okay so potions is your favorite because your other classes are easy. How come they’re so easy?”

Harry smirked as he suddenly had a chance to show off a bit.

“Because of this.”

He pointed his finger at Black’s leather jacket and turned it red and sparkly before making it blue and silky and finally turning it back to the black leather it started as.

“Merlin,” Black said. “Thought maybe you only did wandless magic when you were trying to kill people.”

“That too,” Harry said easily as the drinks and snacks floated to their table. “Potions doesn’t use much magic though, does it? So I have to pay attention in that class.”

“That’s amazing,” Black sounded genuinely impressed which made Harry sit up straighter and grin just a bit. “Your dad would have given anything for power like that. Hell, I still would.”

Harry’s grin faded just a bit as he realized that was probably the first thing most people remembered about him.

“It’s not that great,” he said.

“Course it is,” Black disagreed. “But I’m sure it’s not as interesting as... let’s see... who’s your favorite Professor? And don’t say Snape.”

“But it is Snape,” Harry said.

“Second favorite then,” Black said. “I already know he’s your favorite.”

“Flitwick,” Harry said. “Gave me points once when I threatened a whole group of Ravenclaws, didn’t he? Was McGonagall yours then?”

“Her and old Sluggy,” Black said. “He was the potions professor when I was a student. Right pushover. Let us do whatever we wanted if we batted our eyes just right. The man was obsessed with Lily though.”

Harry laughed when Black batted his eyes at Harry coquettishly. He snagged a few chips off the tray while Black started again with more questions.

“Favorite food?”

Harry’s was miniature treacle tarts, which Black said wasn’t a food and Harry argued that it absolutely counted, and Black’s was shepherds pie.

“Favorite music?”

They both liked the Led Zepplin album that Snape got for Harry. He had listened to a million times on the charmed disc player him and Snape fixed up over the summer.

“Who’s your best friend? Best guy and best girl friend.”

Harry’s was Susan and Blaise and Black’s was Harry’s dad and he admitted he didn’t have many female friends.

They were arguing over the best animal, Harry said owls while Black adamantly said it was dogs, when Harry’s friends started trickling in.

“Hello,” Hermione said shyly as her and Theo were the first to arrive. Their cheeks were pink from the cold and Harry thought their lips looked suspiciously chapped. “I’m Hermione Granger, and this is Theo Nott.”

Black did a subtle double take at Theo’s name but smiled at both of them and offered them a seat.

“I’m Sirius Black,” he said. “It’s nice to meet you.”

They repeated the process as Susan, Draco, and Ron all arrived.

“You get Galvin set up?” Harry asked Ron.

“Yep,” Ron’s smile stretched across his whole face. “He flew right up to Sevvie and they started hooting at each other. Suppose our owls are gonna be mates too.”

“Who’s Galvin?” Draco asked as he sat down and snagged a butterbeer.

“An owl, stupid,” Susan laughed as she sat next to Harry.

“He’s my owl,” Ron said proudly. “Harry got him for me for my birthday.”

“Aww, Harry, that was sweet of you,” Hermione said.

“That’s Harry, sweet as can be,” Theo rolled his eyes.

“Your Molly’s son, right?” Black asked Ron. “You look just like her.”

“Yep,” Ron confirmed as he sat down. “People usually call me Ron though. ‘Molly’s son’ is a bit of a mouthful, isn’t it?”

“Do we like Black?” Susan whispered directly in Harry’s ear under the cover of Black and Draco’s laughter.

“For now,” Harry muttered. Susan nodded in understanding and Harry felt a new wave of appreciation for his friend. If he had said he didn’t like Black he had no doubt that she would have spent the rest of the time trying to catch the man on fire or some other mad scheme. Which was one of the many reasons why Susan was his best friend.

“And I’ve heard about you of course,” Black said to Susan as he slid her a drink. “Painted ‘inconsiderate arsehole’ on Remus’ door, yeah?”

“How’d you know?” Susan asked. “Even Lupin didn’t know!”

“You admitted it right in front of him,” Black said. “You lot know he’s got super hearing right? There’s no such thing as a quiet whisper around him. Trust me.”

Harry and Susan exchanged shocked looks as they hadn’t actually considered that during their many whispered conversations.

“Honestly,” Hermione rolled her eyes in exasperation. “It’s like neither of you even bothered to read the textbook.”

“We didn’t,” Harry and Susan said simultaneously before the whole group cracked up in laughter.

“Alright, so how’d you all meet Harry?” Black asked everyone.

“I met Harry first,” Susan said. “He was at the library in Diagon Alley just breaking the law in the middle of the legal section. I walked right up to him and said ‘you’re going to be expelled for that you know.’”

“And I told her that magic that didn’t use a wand wasn’t illegal.” Harry grinned as he remembered Susan’s pompous tone. It felt like it was forever ago that they met. Black chuckled at that and gave Harry a look of approval.

“How about you lot?”

“I met him in Madame Malkins,” Draco said. “He was the rudest kid I’ve ever met in my life, then he summoned his jacket from the doorway like it was nothing.”

“Ron and I met him on the train,” Hermione said.

“After he stuck his wand in our faces and I thought I was about to be murdered,” Ron grinned. “Then he threatened the trolley lady and she still won’t sell him treats.”

All the kids laughed about that. It was absolutely true. The trolley lady holds a grudge worse than anyone Harry had ever met, including himself.

“How about you Theo?” Black asked.

“We met on the first night. After Harry nearly killed a student during the opening duels I figured I should either be his friend or ask for a resort,” Theo said drily with a small smirk towards Harry. “Then the rest of us just sort of clicked.”

Black eyed Theo and Hermione’s clasped hands, “Looks like it,” he grinned. Theo and Hermione both turned a little pink but the rest of them grinned.

“What’s an opening duel?” Black asked curiously when Draco was done teasing Hermione and Theo.

“It’s a Slytherin tradition,” Draco said. He explained the duels and how they sorted out any problems students had with each other on the first night while Black listened attentively.

“And someone had a problem with Harry on his first ever night?” he asked skeptically.

“Plenty of students used to have a problem with Harry,” Draco said.

“Boy Who Lived and all,” Theo added.

“And now they worship the ground he walks on,” Ron said with a roll of his eyes.

Black laughed again and they all fell in to more casual conversation. Black asked Draco about his mom and shared a few stories about her when she was younger. Harry realized that Black was what Susan would call a ‘social butterfly’. He seemed to enjoy talking to all of them and acted like he wanted to get to know them all. Harry felt the tiniest smidge of guilt at thinking he nearly killed someone who probably didn’t really deserve it, the whole Grim problem notwithstanding.

“There’s the twins,” Susan giggled suddenly as Fred and George walked in the pub with a group of their own friends and took up a table on the other side of the room.

“Fred doesn’t look too broken up over your rejection, does he?” Draco said as he glared across the room at them.

“Shut up,” Harry hissed, ducking down slightly to avoid being seen. He hadn’t decided what he thought about Fred yet and didn’t want to attract his attention right now.

“Who’s Fred?” Black whispered.

“My brother,” Ron said. “Asked Harry out and Harry told him no.”

“Tall red headed twin?” Black asked.

“Yes,” Hermione said.

Black looked at Harry and quirked his lips up in an amused sort of look.

“Moony told me he thought you and Susan were a couple,” he laughed. “He didn’t tell me you had an older boy after you.” Black waggled his brows in the same way Ron did when he was teasing Harry about something.

“We are not a couple,” Harry sputtered as Susan giggled. “She’s my best friend.”

“Harry’s my honorary brother,” Susan said as she threw her arm around his shoulder in the casual way Harry had started to enjoy. “My Auntie said if Snape wasn’t so clingy she would have let him move in with us last year.”

Harry turned to Susan and stared at her slack jawed for a moment.

“She did?” he asked quietly.

“Yep,” Susan confirmed. “But then Snape gave you a damn house and we knew it was a lost cause.”

Harry felt a warmth wash over him at that. He knew Amelia had been kind to him and even wrote him a few times since the summer he stayed there, but he didn’t know that she offered to be his guardian.

“That was nice of her,” he said quietly.

“My Mum applied to be your guardian too,” Ron added. “Said we could dye your hair and you’d fit right in.”

Everyone laughed at that since all of Ron’s siblings had bright orange hair.

“Nobody would even notice one extra Weasley,” Draco pointed out. “But then Fred would have to find a new crush.”

Harry hissed quietly at Draco as he brought the subject back to Harry.

“Tell me about your classes,” Black cut in with a subtle wink towards Harry. “It’s been years since I’ve even thought about them.”

Harry relaxed slightly as everyone started talking about the classes they liked, and disliked, for the rest of the conversation. He drank his butterbeer and cut in every so often until it started to get darker outside.

“We should probably head back soon,” Hermione said when she checked the time. “We don’t want to get in trouble.”

“Wonder what that would be like,” Susan grinned.

Black jumped up and smiled at the students as they gathered their bags.

“It was nice meeting you all,” he said earnestly. “Until I find a job I’m making myself at home here so I’ll probably see you next time you guys are in the village.”

“Are you rejoining the aurors?” Harry asked, unconsciously wrinkling his nose in distaste.

“Fuck no,” Black said as he walked with them through the exit. “Why would I wanna work with the same gits that tossed me in prison without a trial?”

Harry nodded his head in complete agreement. “Good,” he said. He glanced towards his other friends and made a quick decision. “I’ll catch up with you guys at dinner, yeah? I’m gonna talk for a minute then I told Snape I’d stop by.”

His friends agreed easily and started racing each other towards the castle.

“Snape making sure I didn’t accidentally kill you?” Black said casually as he stuck his hands in his pockets and strolled alongside Harry as he slowly walked towards the castle. Harry gave him an incredulous look.

“D’ya think you could?”

“Probably not,” Black said with a small huff of laughter. “But he might still think it.”

“Maybe,” Harry allowed. “I wanted to ask you something though.”

“Sure, what’s up pup?”

“Did- did you... did you tell Lupin all that stuff I said?” Harry asked quickly. It had been bothering him ever since they left the Mind Healers office over break and Snape said that Lupin and Black were once again dating.

Black stopped in the middle of the path and gave Harry an uncharacteristically serious look.

“I didn’t,” he said. “I swear. I wish I hadn’t of heard it. Not because I don’t want to know all about you,” he said hastily. “But because I wish I would have learned it once I earned your trust, not because you didn’t know who you were talking to.”

Harry released his breath in a relieved sigh. It was bad enough that Lupin knew his boggart and caught him being stupid in the corridor one night, he didn’t want to imagine the man knowing even more about him.

“Good,” he said as they started walking again. “Er, thanks I guess.”

“I’m pretty decent at keeping secrets,” Black said. “I never told anyone that your Dad wet the bed all through his first year.”

“He did?!” Harry said with a surprised laugh. “Fuck that would be embarrassing.”

“Oh it was,” Black grinned. “Plus we didn’t know then that Remus was a wolf so Remus knew the whole time.”

“Oh my God,” Harry started laughing harder at that. “Why’d he wet the bed?”

“He’d never been away from home. His parents, your grandparents, spoiled him rotten. He was an only child until I moved in. So moving out to Hogwarts was a big change for him.”

Harry listened as Black shared a couple other stories about James Potter. It wasn’t so bad hearing about him like this, it was a lot like when Snape talked about his Mom. Just goofy stories about what his parents were like when they were younger. Harry thought it was unfair that everyone else seemed to know all these things about them that he’d never get a chance to find out for himself before he reminded himself that it didn’t matter. They couldn’t come back from the dead and Harry didn’t need them anyway. It was pointless to pine over something you couldn’t have.

When they arrived at the gates Black stopped and smiled genuinely at Harry in a way that made his grey eyes crinkle around the corners.

“You play Ravenclaw next weekend, right?” he asked.

“Yep.”

Black shuffled his feet a bit and looked almost nervous as he asked him, “Mind if I come?”

“Come to the match?” Harry asked, bewildered. “Why?”

Black shrugged, “I used to think about you being a famous Quidditch star one day. When you were a baby, course I thought you’d be a chaser like your Dad and I were. And I just thought it might be nice to come cheer you on... like I always wanted to.”

Harry watched him carefully as he felt another one of the odd waves of warmth crash in to him.

“Y-yeah,” he stammered as he kicked a pebble across the pathway. “That’d be alright.”

Black smiled and shook his hair back out of his face.

“Perfect,” he said. “Never thought I’d need a reason to buy a Slytherin scarf.”

Harry smirked as he remembered Snape saying how his Dad and Black hated Slytherins when they were students.

“You have to wear green or you can’t come,” he said mock-solemnly. “The seeker for Ravenclaw is a twit so you don’t want people to be confused about who you’re cheering for.”

“Alright, alright,” Black put his hands up in surrender. “I’ll be there and I’ll wear green.”

“Brill,” Harry said. “Guess I’ll see you next weekend then?”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Black said as Harry walked through the gates. “Send Minnie my loveee.”

Harry flipped him off even as he laughed on his way to the castle doors. He didn’t trust Black, not yet, but he couldn’t deny that the man’s cheerful mood was a bit contagious. He figured if he had spent twelve years in prison and finally had his name cleared he’d probably be pretty happy about it too though.

Harry still had a small smile on his face as he made his way to the dungeons. Black was a lot different from him, but he was an alright bloke so far. Harry was mostly relieved now that he hadn’t killed him.

75%

The day of the Ravenclaw and Slytherin match dawned brightly. Despite the sun shining, Severus did not envy the players as they planned to fly through the skies in the bitterly cold winter air. He gave the Slytherin team nods of approval as they all ate hearty breakfasts.

Severus was pleased to see that Potter was uncharacteristically eating enthusiastically as he laughed and talked with his friends. He also kept shooting hopeful looks towards the hall doors before sending guilty ones towards Severus. Which, was rather easily interpreted.

Severus could easily admit to himself that he worried about Potter’s relationship with Black. Black was easy going, social, affectionate, and kind- all the things Severus himself was not. Lupin had diminished his opportunity to bond with Potter the moment he witnessed Potter in two vulnerable moments. It may be unfair of the child to hold that against Lupin, but Severus had not complained because he found the situation perfectly tolerable. But now, especially after pursuing the notes from the Mind Healer, Severus was in a position where he should encourage Potter and Black’s relationship for the benefit of his ward. Which he understood to be the reasonable route he should take.

Yet... yet he worried that Potter would find Black preferable to himself eventually. And where would that leave him? Pining after a position in the child’s life that he hardly deserved? It would be pathetic.

But Potter’s guilty glances were causing Severus to feel his own guilt. He finished his coffee as he mentally chided himself. Worrying over Potter’s connection to Black would not cement his place in the child’s life, he would have to instead show Potter that he could have both of them and that Severus would not be displeased to share him.

Even if it was a lie.

“Boys,” Severus nodded to Potter and Draco. “Are you prepared for today?”

“Of course,” Draco said with a bright smile. “Ravenclaw doesn’t stand a chance.”

“Thanks to the Seeker of course,” Potter scoffed. “Slytherin Chasers could use some work.”

“Oi!” Draco threw a napkin at Potter as the rest of their merry band of misfits laughed.

Severus saw Potter subtly glance towards the door again and internally sighed.

“What time is Black arriving?” he asked casually.

Potter turned his head back down to his plate and looked up at Severus through his lashes.

“Dunno,” Potter said shortly.

“My assistance is required to supervise the students as they head to the pitch soon, if you would like I could point Black to the team locker room when he arrives?” Severus offered in as neutral of a tone as he could.

Potter looked up properly at him and narrowed his eyes in suspicion, which Severus thought was rather unfair.

“That’s okay,” he said. “If he wants to find me then ‘m sure he can do it by himself, can’t he?”

Severus inclined his head in silent acknowledgment.

“If you insist,” he said. “I must go ensure that no children accidentally find themselves in the Forrest instead of the pitch, it would be a shame if Hogwarts lost half the Gryffindors.” Potter’s friends snickered and, with a last wish of luck, Severus left the hall to go supervise the students.

He entertained himself by docking points from the other houses as students shoved and fought their way to the pitch. It was frigidly cold and Severus sincerely hoped that the teams flying today were intelligent enough to utilize warming charms. Which, judging from the casual way Potter and Draco strolled to the locker rooms, it seemed as if his team was. Severus didn’t miss the way Potter glanced around as he walked. While his vigilant glances were not unusual, the hopeful look in his eyes was.

Finally, about ten minutes before the game was set to start and the last of the students had entered the stands, Severus saw the wild mane of hair that could only belong to Black coming through the gates.

He grit his teeth and rolled his shoulders as he prepared himself,

This is for Potter, he reminded himself sternly.

“Black,” he called, catching the man’s attention.

“Snape,” Black said cordially as he jogged up to him. “Have you seen Harry?” Severus was begrudgingly impressed to see a Slytherin scarf wrapped around the man’s neck- he was sure Potter would appreciate the gesture.

“He is in the Slytherin locker room,” Severus pointed towards the lockers. “I believe he has been waiting on you to arrive.”

“Great,” Black gave Severus an attempt at a smile, that looked much more like a grimace. “Uh... thanks then.”

Severus nodded silently, as he felt as though he had exhausted his ability to remain cordial. He watched as Black ran to the locker rooms, an excited smile making him appear much younger. His duty now done, Severus made his way to the teachers box.

He bit back a scathing retort when he arrived and Lupin immediately asked him if he had seen Black.

“I believe he was wishing Potter luck,” he said stiffly as he wedged himself between Minerva and Filius.

“Rough day Severus?” Filius asked sympathetically.

“And about to get worse,” Severus muttered as Black bound up the stairs to the box.

“Minnie!” he cried. “It’s been so long!”

“Not long enough,” Minerva responded, her tone warm despite her words. “I heard you’ve made a nuisance of yourself in Rosmerta’s pub.”

“You know me,” Black smiled. “Rosie complains, but she loves me.”

Lupin sighed in a faux-put upon way as Black pulled a Slytherin scarf from his pocket and draped it around his neck.

“We’re supporting Harry,” he said firmly. “No pretending to be impartial today.”

Severus clenched his jaw and decided to watch as the teams entered the pitch to avoid the lovesick eyes the two grown men seated in the row in front of him were making.

“There’s Harry!” Black said. “Merlin he looks sharp, doesn’t he?”

“Yes,” Lupin agreed. “He’s an excellent flier.”

Lupin has seen one game, Severus thought harshly. He’s hardly a judge of Potter’s talents.

“How do you feel about your chances Severus?” Filius asked loudly. “Think Flint’ll win the cup for his last year here?”

“Of course,” Severus said. “Lord knows he’ll need something to put on his resumés.”

Filius chuckled, as did Minerva, and Severus felt a rather unprecedented feel of camaraderie amongst his fellow staff.

“They would still have to beat my Lions,” Minerva said. “And Wood is maniacally practicing day in and day out.”

The teams took to the air and Severus watched as Potter drifted higher than the rest of the players and began lazily making laps around the field.

“Sorry Minnie, but my bets on Slytherin this year,” Black said cheerfully. “Harry nearly caught the snitch last game even after the dementors took to the field.”

“He caught it the year before after Fred Weasley shattered his arm as well,” Severus automatically added.

“Fred broke Harry’s arm?” Black asked as he tracked Harry with his eyes. “Thought he was sweet on him?”

Minerva looked towards Severus who grimaced and lifted a shoulder.

“Fred is fifteen,” she said stiffly. “And a hooligan to boot.”

“Sounds like- oh shit!” Black gasped as Harry dove towards the ground quickly, causing the Chang girl to follow behind.

“Only ten minutes in the game it looks as if Slytherin seeker Harry Potter has spotted the snitch!” the announcer, Lee Jordan, a fifth year Gryffindor, yelled to boos from three quarters of the students.

“Don’t boo my godson you prats,” Black cried indignantly.

Severus nearly bit his tongue in half to prevent himself from commenting that Black used to have no difficulty booing Slytherin when he was a student.

This is for Potter, he chanted in his head as he watched his ward. Potter, less than two feet from the ground, suddenly pulled back on his broom and shot back towards the sky. Chang was not as lucky and nosedived in to the ground.

“IT WAS A FEINT!” Jordan shouted, now excited at Potter’s tactic. “Potter pulled off a feint! Chang crashes and the score is 0-10 for Ravenclaw!”

Black jumped to his feet as he cheered loudly.

“Did you see that Moony?” he yelled. “Harry’s like a pro out there!”

“I told you he was good,” Lupin said as he cheered alongside him.

Severus lifted his hand lightly as Potter looked towards the box. Black of course waved obnoxiously.

“I hate this sport,” Severus muttered to Filius as Potter flipped his way across the field.

“What’s Harry’s statistics on not getting injured during a match?” Filius asked.

Severus thought of Potter’s one game he was able to play in his second year where he shattered his arm. Then he was expelled for what should have been his second match. The third Slytherin game was cancelled due to Granger’s petrification. And the only match Potter has played in this school year ended in a dead faint and an outrageous number of severe injuries.

“Not good,” Severus responded to Filius.

“Then he’s bound to be due for an injury free game,” Minerva said kindly as she patted Severus’ knee.

After clapping for Draco as he scored his second goal for Slytherin, Minerva’s words were proven faulty.

“FOUL!” Black screamed as Daniel Inglebee, the seventh year beater on the Ravenclaw team, cracked Potter in the knee with his bat harshly enough that the noise reverberated through the stands.

“God damnit,” Severus hissed.

“He’ll fix it right?” Black turned around and asked him nervously as Potter howled once but continued to fly.

“I doubt it,” Severus said tightly as he saw his ward’s left leg hanging limply off the broom.

“But- he’s good at controlling his magic,” Black insisted. “Why wouldn’t he fix it?”

Severus glanced down and saw that Black did appear genuinely concerned.

“Harry’s magic responds best when he is neither in pain nor in emotional turmoil,” he said. “And I believe a broken kneecap will count as considerable pain.”

“There he goes!” Lupin said as he pulled on Black’s jacket.

Potter sped towards the Ravenclaw posts. He was bent across his broom in a needless effort to move quicker towards his goal. Potter stretched his arm out and-

“POTTER CATCHES THE SNITCH!” Jordan yelled. “SLYTHERIN WINS! 170-20!”

Severus applauded as he made his way to his feet, eager to get to Potter before the foolish child landed and attempted to walk on his leg.

“Moony I’ll catch you later, okay?” Black said as he hurried after Severus. “Snape! Wait up!”

Severus barely slowed his walk to allow Black to catch up with him, curious as to what he wanted.

“Hey,” he said. “I thought maybe we could talk after the game? About Harry?”

“What about him?” Severus asked as they both quickly walked towards the pitch where, of fucking course, Potter was limping towards them.

“We’ll talk later,” Black murmured as he ran towards Potter.

“Harry! You did amazing!”

“Thanks,” Potter grinned before taking another step and wincing slightly. It was an odd moment to appreciate it, but Severus was mildly impressed by the child’s pain threshold. Though of course the understanding of how he acquired it was a sobering thought.

“Er, Professor?” Potter glanced down at his knee and back up at Severus. “Think it’s broken.”

“Of course it is, sit you dunderhead,” Severus growled without any real heat in his words. Potter flopped down on the ground and held out the snitch in his hand.

“I won,” he said brightly.

“I am aware,” Severus said.

“That feint was amazing!” Black crowed as Severus cast a quick diagnostic charm. “Where’d you learn that at?”

“Over the summer, Snape thought I’d never get it but I did.”

Severus snorted as he read the results of the charm and relaxed slightly.

“I believe my concern was that you would not succeed in learning it at three in the morning, in the dark, as you attempted human transfiguration.” Potter grinned up at him, the high from winning the match clearly beating out any pain he may be feeling. “You’ve shattered your knee. Would you like me to mend it or send you to Poppy?”

76%

Take that Mutt, Severus thought smugly as Black continued to dissect the game with Potter.

“Brackium Emendo,” he said with a gentle tap on Potter’s knee.

“Brill,” Potter stretched his leg out gingerly before hopping to his feet and waving at his approaching teammates.

“One more game!” Draco yelled as he ran up to Potter. “We just have to beat Gryffindor-“

“As if that’s hard,” Flint snorted before clapping Potter on the shoulder. “Good catch Potter.”

Potter’s hand twitched at the contact and he easily stepped away from Flint, closer to Severus, as he shrugged.

“Told ya Chang’s a twit,” he scoffed. Draco laughed and fell in step beside Potter in front of Black and Severus.

“Susan’s grabbing everyone else to go to the kitchen before they meet us in the common room,” he explained as Potter looked around them on their way back towards the castle.

“Mione better not be bullying Mavis again,” Potter warned him darkly.

“Mavis is your house elf, right?” Black asked curiously. “Why would Hermione be bullying him?”

“She keeps telling him he should be free and making him come cling on to me,” Potter scowled. “Every time he sees Mione suddenly he’s hugging on my legs and saying ‘Mavis will be being a better elf’.”

“It’s gross,” Draco added helpfully.

“You don’t think elves should be freed?”

Severus sighed as Black’s question set Potter off on a tangent that he himself had heard many times. Not only did Potter adamantly believe house-elves should be free, but he also discussed the possibility of purchasing an ‘extra wand’ and ‘loaning it to Mavis’.

Potter’s rant was interrupted by a loud whistle as the four of them approached the castle.

“Good game Little Snake,” one of the Weasley twins, likely Fred, called to him through a crowd of Gryffindor students.

“Thanks,” Potter mumbled, his face turning as red as Weasley’s robes.

“Your leg okay?” Weasley called.

“Yeah.”

“Wicked, so you can go to Hogsmeade with me on Valentine’s Day?”

Potter managed to turn two shades redder as Draco and Black both chuckled.

“Ten points from Gryffindor for obscene remarks,” Severus called as he saw Potter looked rather embarrassed.

Weasley shrugged and winked at Potter who quickly drug Draco inside the castle with him.

“Why didn’t you say yes?” Draco laughed.

“‘M not gonna fuckin’ answer in front of a whole crowd, am I?” Potter said indignantly.

“Should have told him to piss off,” Black suggested as he leaned against the wall. “Make him think you’re not interested.”

“Why?” Potter asked curiously. Severus was only mildly insulted to see that Draco appeared to be hanging on Blacks every word.

Potter will be unhappy if you fight with Black, Severus chanted to himself repeatedly.

“Makes you seem more attractive,” Black said. “Moony made me chase him around for years and it drove me mad in a good way.”

Severus privately thought that perhaps Lupin was unwilling to commit to a man who seemed to have a different date every month. Though it was none of his business.

Potter glanced at Severus before shrugging at Black.

“Maybe,” he allowed.

Draco lightly tugged on Potter’s sleeve, consciously not making contact with his actual arm.

“C’mon, we can’t have a party until we get there. We’re the only ones who scored any points today.”

Potter laughed and his face instantly brightened at the reminder of their win.

“Er, thanks for coming,” he said to Black with a hint of uncertainty. “Suppose I’ll probably see ya in Hogsmeade next in a couple weeks?”

“Bring Fred,” Black smiled. “Any kid who cracked the maps code has to be worth one date.”

“We’ll see,” Potter said. “Thanks for fixing my leg Professor,” he said to Severus.

Severus waved his hand, used to Potter’s unnecessary gratitudes for simple tasks.

“Do try and be in your dorm by curfew,” he said sternly. “And inform Miss Lovegood she should return to her own bed as well.”

Potter gave Severus a half-hearted salute as he ran towards the staircase with Draco, intentionally ignoring his instructions.

“Miss Lovegood? You mean Luna? Why’s she in Harry’s bed?”

Severus silently groaned as he realized Black still requested an audience with him. He gestured towards the dungeons in an invitation to follow along to his office.

“I believe her reasoning is that Potter’s bed is warmer than hers, and Potter states that she is not there as he hides her beneath his cloak most mornings,” Severus said drily.

“Thats... that’s weird, right?”

“Not to Potter,” Severus said as they entered his office. “Though I doubt you wished to speak with me about Potter’s sleep habits.”

“I didn’t.” Black pulled himself up straight and looked evenly at Severus. “I wanted to say that I... I appreciate you looking out for Harry these past couple years. But now-“

“No,” Severus interrupted him. “Absolutely not.”

“You didn’t let me finish,” Black said. “I’m his godfather-“

“I’m his guardian,” Severus interrupted again. “No.”

“You don’t even like kids,” Black accused.

Severus lifted a brow at Black in an attempt to be as passively irritating as possible.

“Potter is hardly a child, and I happen to be rather fond of him.”

“He’s not a toy Snape,” Black snapped. “He’s just a kid who needs someone that’s more than ‘rather fond’ of him.”

“I am extremely fond of him,” Severus drawled. “And I have no intention of rescinding my guardianship to you.”

“What if Harry wants you to?”

Severus faltered for a second as he considered it.

“Do you even have a job? A way to support him? Proper living arrangements for a teenager?” Severus asked.

“I’ve had a couple job offers,” Black said rather evasively. “I’m not in a rush though.”

Severus snorted as he recalled the vast wealth that Black inherited. The man likely had no need to work a day in his life.

“And I’m thinking about buying a house in the south end of London. Went and checked it out yesterday, it’s a nice place. There’s four bedrooms, so there’s plenty of room for Harry.”

“And the wolf?”

Black crossed his arms across his chest and glared at Severus.

“Won’t be there if Harry doesn’t want him there at first,” he said stubbornly. “I already talked to Moony about it, he understands.”

“Touching,” Severus sneered. Though the logical part of his mind, the part that was not worried he was about to lose his ward, could admit that it was considerate of Black to choose Potter’s comfort over shacking up with his lover. “Potter hardly knows you,” he pointed out instead.

“How well does he know you?” Black challenged him.

“There are no secrets between us,” Severus said proudly. “Potter knows all there is to know about me.”

Black seemed momentarily surprised by his confident answer before he slumped in to a more relaxed pose.

“Listen, I know you’ve been good for him,” he said. “And I know Harry trusts you more than anyone. But it was supposed to be me. And I want to fix that. I want to be in his life Snape.”

Severus cursed at Black’s tone. Was this show of genuine emotions not proof that Black would be helpful to Potter?

No, he scolded himself. Black is drawn in by the idea of Potter. He has no idea what raising him entails.

“I am not preventing you from being in his life,” Severus said. “I believe there is nothing stopping you from being his godfather.”

Black leaned closer to Severus, as if judging his worth as a guardian visually. Severus held himself still as he was being intently stared at.

“I know Harry likes you, but I thought you’d be happy at a chance to pass him off,” Black said slowly. “He talked about you a lot. You... you care about him, don’t you?”

“Of course I care about him,” Severus scoffed. “Did you mistakenly believe I was forced in to accepting guardianship? Potter requested me and I accepted.”

“I could be good for Harry,” Black said as he straightened himself back up, though dropping the defensive stance he had previously held. “I think we’re a lot alike.”

‘The Black Madness, it is rather hereditary.’

“I am certain you are,” Severus agreed. “Though Potter trusts me. And it was trust hard earned and easily lost. I will not throw it away by making him believe I am willing to sign him over like a used broomstick.”

“What if he wants to live with me?” Black asked again. “What then?”

“Then I will respect his wishes,” Severus said as casually as he could, despite the cold sliver of fear that became lodged in his chest. “Potter is thirteen, and more mature than most adults-“ he gave a pointed look at Black “-and if he no longer wishes to reside with me then I shall respect it.”

“Yeah?” Black said. “You wouldn’t be an arse to him about it? Because I think no matter what Harry would still want you in his life.”

“I have no need for coddling,” Severus said coolly. “I am aware of the relationship I have with Potter.”

“Alright.” Black nodded his head slowly. “Don’t say anything about it to him just yet, please? I want to talk to him about it myself.”

Severus jerked his chin in a semblance of a nod.

“Thanks Snape,” Black said cordially. “And I meant what I said- I think you’ve done a good job with Harry. Merlin knows the kid isn’t easy, is he?”

“You said what you came to say, go,” Severus said.

Black bobbed his head in Severus’ direction and quickly left, probably to go find the wolf.

Severus hardly made it to his quarters before the exhaustion sunk in to his body and he slumped down on his sofa.

Severus summoned himself a drink and stared in to the fireplace as he contemplated the likelihood of Potter choosing to reside with Black over himself.

The more he drank, the more likely it became. And the more likely it became, the more he drank.

It was a vicious cycle that ended with Severus passing out on his sofa and waking up with a hollow ache in his chest and a crick in his neck.

***



Dearest Severus,
I would be delighted to help you in any way for my dearest Meraviglía.
Let me know rapidamente the medication you will be needing for my beloved and I will send my assistant out to acquire it.
Much love my dearest,
- Juliana Zabini

***

“Potter! Are you even paying attention?”

Severus’ call in Potions class caused Potter to snap his head up from the notepad he had been frantically scribbling in and gave him a wide eyed look.

“Course I am sir,” he said. “Writing down what you said, aren’t I?”

Severus huffed as Potter’s tone bordered the line of disrespect in front of his class and returned to his lecture. He reminded himself that Potter was hardly the only student behaving distractedly.

It happened every February. As the fourteenth approached and the students got older they got more and more distracted from their studies in favor of insipidly giggling in the halls and blushing at their classmates. They were a week away from the busiest Hogsmeade weekend of the year and Potter, along with all of his classmates, had become increasingly more excitable as of late.

After he dismissed his class he watched as Potter sprang up and bounced out in to the hall, talking animatedly with Ronald and Theodore. Severus made an honest attempt at ignoring the fact that he likely only had one week left until Black approached Potter about the guardianship and he lost his ward altogether.

As a suitable distraction, Severus threw himself in to his research project. They had discovered a way to combine the transfigurational potions base with the medicinal one, making it adaptive to the venom without compromising a muggles ability to consume it, and were now working on a spell to instruct the venom to target only the cancerous cells within a body.

The difficult part of this stage in the research was discovering ways to test the charms. Under no circumstances would Severus attempt to test it on a human, which left him to scavenge the castle for mice. He thought he had gotten it right one evening, after spelling the disease sample Ramsey sent him in to the mouse then injecting the potion, and was dismayed to see the mouse had passed quietly that night.

“God damnit,” he swore upon seeing the mouses still body. He was too tired, and swamped with papers that needed grading, to attempt another mixture tonight, but as the students were all in bed it would be the ideal time to go find another couple of mice to test his next free afternoon.

Severus quietly left the to go search near the kitchen for stray mice, as they seemed to favor the warm corridor in the colder months. He had nearly caught one when he was interrupted by Argus Filch jumping out at him-

“AHA!” he cried, shoving a lantern in Severus’ face.

“What is this meaning of this?” Severus hissed in frustration, both by the mouse he had painstakingly stalked scurrying away and from having a lantern shoved unceremoniously in his face.

“Oh, Professor Snape, sorry,” the man said quickly. “Thought you were a student out of bed.”

“And why would you think that?” Severus asked as he kept a close eye on the corridor in case any additional mice stuck a single whisker out of the cracks they enjoyed hiding in.

“Mrs Norris heard someone up in the owlery,” Filch said in his oily voice. “I guess that was you then?”

“It was not,” Severus said. The owlery would in fact be the last place he would search for mice as the owls typically snatched them as meals once they roamed too closely to their home. He sighed as he acknowledged his own duty, “Though I will go investigate.”

“Very good sir,” Filch gave him some sort of twitchy half bow. Severus truly had no idea how the man had decided they were on friendly terms, especially as he had threatened Severus’ ward last year, but the respect was appreciated nonetheless.

Severus quietly made his way to the owlery, cursing himself for even leaving his quarters this evening. As he walked swiftly he decided that whichever students had the misfortune to find themselves out of bed at this hour would simply have to bear the brunt of his displeasure.

He could hear the ridiculous student talking clear from the bottom of the staircase, they were hardly even attempting to keep their presence a secret.

He threw the door open, “And what do you think you are- Potter?!”

Potter stood beside the open window and jumped at his entrance.

“What’re you doing here?” Potter said as he hid something behind his back quickly.

“Harry it is nearly midnight, what are you doing out of your dorm this late?”

Potter didn’t appear to be in distress. He was rather bright eyed and relaxed despite his flickering eyes and the way he continued to angle his body away from Severus as he stepped closer to the child.

“Couldn’t sleep so thought I’d come check on Sevvie,” Potter said evasively.

“And what is behind your back?”

“Nothin’,” Potter lied as he shifted himself further away from Severus. “Were you trying to find more mice? Cause I can help you tomorrow if you want.”

Severus ignored Potters blatant attempt at changing the subject and stared down at him instead.

“What is behind your back?” he said slowly.

“I swear I don’t have anything,” Potter insisted. “Can we just forget it? Let’s go find some mice, yeah?”

Severus hated to do this, truly he did, but he made a quick motion towards Potter. Potter, predictably, tripped backwards as he flinched away from Severus and stuck his arms out to catch himself.

“What the fuck have you done?” Severus said, horrified as he saw the arm Potter had attempted to hide from him. His entire right arm looked to be covered in feathers. Not covered, but as if the feathers were growing out of his skin in some form of a grotesque transfiguration.

“You’re gonna be mad,” Potter said as he rightened himself and had the audacity to smile up at him.

“Inform me at once what has happened here.”

“I’m trying to be an owl,” Potter said baldly.

Severus blinked at him until the words registered in his mind.

“You... are trying to be an owl?” he said.

“Yep,” Potter grinned again. “It’s a brilliant idea I had last night.”

Severus looked down again at Potter’s arm and shuddered at the amount of work it would likely take to undo that amount of botched transfiguration.

“Explain it to me as I escort you to my office,” Severus said.

“Okay listen-“ Potter bounced along side Severus as he talked and Severus listened. “I wanna be an animagus but I don’t wanna take any chances on what my form is. So I was laying in bed last night thinking about it and I figured that transfiguring myself in to an owl is a much better idea then gambling on being an owl through my animagus form, right? So I was trying to imagine Sevvie’s feathers and I couldn’t get it right so I went up to the owlery and- hey, what’s wrong?”

Severus had stopped midstride in the corridor once he realized what was happening.

This was the ‘I’m transfiguring my eyes fifty feet in the air with no supervision’ manic episode all over again.

Son of a bitch.

“When is the last time you slept?” he asked Potter as he attempted to casually walk alongside him again.

“Few days,” Potter waved his feathered hand. “But I thought you wanted to hear about becoming an owl?”

“You understand of course that you would never be able to transform yourself in to an actual owl, yes?”

“Nooo,” Potter said, drawling the word out slowly. “Because I had a plan. And it’s a good plan if you’d just listen.”

“Continue.”

“So anyway I needed to go to the owlery and find Sevvie. And I kept thinking ‘be an owl, be an owl’ but nothing worked, ya know? So I thought maybe it would be easier if I did it a part at a time. So I was working on the wings, which is what this is-“ Potter waved his arm around again and laughed. “-but it just made feathers and didn’t change the shape of my arm yet.”

Severus listened halfheartedly as Potter rapidly spoke about his incredibly dangerous attempts at human transfiguration while they walked.

“Did you have no concern for being caught out of bed after hours?” Severus cut in at one point as the child was horrifyingly describing his attempt at creating claws from his feet.

“I had my cloak,” Potter said with a careless shrug. “And I was real quiet when Filch came up. So no, guess I wasn’t real concerned.”

Severus wanted to either bash Potter’s head in the wall, or his own.

“Come in and let me attempt to fix this mess,” Severus said as they approached his office.

“Fix it?” Potter cried as he followed him in. “D’you know how long it took me to do this?? You can’t take it back now! Did you even hear my plan?”

“I did,” Severus said evenly as he pulled out the required potions and prayed that they were enough. “And I cannot allow you to have a partially transfigured arm. Harry you are a person, not an owl.”

“But I could be!” Potters eyes were disturbingly bright as he carried on. “We’re magic sir! We can do anything we want! You’re curing cancer! Broomsticks can fly! Black turns in to a dog, why shouldn’t I turn in to an owl?”

“Because it is not possible,” Severus said harshly as he slammed the potions on to his desk. “It is not possible and it is insanity to even try.”

“It’s not insanity,” Potter laughed. “You’re just jealous! You’re jealous because I’m gonna figure it out and you didn’t even think about it!”

“Catch.” Severus threw an empty vial towards Potter who reached for it instinctively with his right hand and stared as the vial slipped through his feather covered hand.

“That won’t matter because once I’m an owl it’ll be easy to turn back human and then I can switch whenever I want,” Potter said confidently.

“And if you are unable to figure it out before your next quidditch match?” Severus asked.

Potter hesitated and held his hand out in front of him.

“I... I don’t think I can catch the snitch like this,” he chuckled nervously. “Maybe I should have started with the left arm, do you think?”

“I do not.” Severus offered him the first of three potions and felt no small amount of relief as Potter toasted it to him before downing it quickly.

“That’s disgusting,” Potter said cheerfully. “What was it?”

“A transfiguration reversal potion of my own creation,” Severus murmured as he watched Potters arm. Thankfully the feathers began falling out almost immediately.

“Fuck. That hurts don’t it?”

“Good,” Severus muttered as he handed Potter the next potion. “Perhaps you will think twice before attempting this again.”

“Don’t be mad okay? But after our last match I’m definitely trying again,” Potter said before downing the anti inflammatory. “I know I’m right Snape, I can feel it. I did a ton of research, well I tried anyway. But there’s really no research on it. So I’m keeping notes so I can create research for other people to follow. Brilliant, right?”

Potter smiled broadly at him and Severus prayed to Merlin that his next maneuver would be successful.

“What research notes are you making?” he asked casually as he handed Potter the third potion he had pulled from his cabinet.

Potter threw the potion back and began rambling again.

“Well first I wrote down why I had the idea and where it came from, so people know, ya know? Then I started writing down my ideas for how it would-“

Severus moved swiftly to catch Potter before he struck his head on the stone floor as the child fell over in a dead sleep. He cast a feather light charm on the child, the irony not being lost on him, and carried him to his quarters after pocketing the extra strength dreamless sleep vial that Potter dropped as he passed out.

He deposited Potter on the sofa and summoned a blanket. He plucked his glasses off his face and stood there watching him sleep for a few moments.

“Foolish brat,” Severus said softly as he smoothed Potter’s tangled locks of hair off his face. He pulled his recliner closer to the sofa and set a ward to alert him when Potter awoke before summoning his parchment and quill.

‘La folie circulaire’.
Circular madness.

It seemed as if Potter had worked himself back around to a manic cycle in his madness. Severus could only hope it ended quicker than his most recent depressive episode did.

***



Contessa Juliana Zabini,
I have dove quite deep in to the research available on the medication for Harry’s illness and I believe the most effective treatment the French have found at this time is called ‘Lithium’.
If you were able to procure a supply of this, preferably in 500 milligram dosages, I would be eternally grateful and can of course repay you any cost it may incur.
Kindly,
Severus T. Snape