"I knew you didn't mean it." Harry gave his brother a considering look, but knew better than to press for more. He was surprised that Snape had pressed that way, actually.
Draco gestured toward the package he still held. "Well, if that's all cleared up, then let's see what you've got."
After fumbling a bit with the simple gray ribbon, Harry popped off the lid of the box to reveal some tissue paper. Beneath that lay a pile of black, folded cloth, the weave fine for all the fabric itself was luxuriously thick. Curious, Harry lifted the garment and shook it out.
"A student cloak," he realized, smiling. The ones he'd bought at the end of the summer were getting a bit snug, he realized. "What a thoughtful present, sir. Thank you."
Draco suddenly barked a laugh. "Oh, that's marvelous, Severus. Who did the artwork?"
That was when Harry noticed the crest. The familiar Gryffindor lion, just as he'd worn for years, but with it, a snake, the symbol of Slytherin. A beautiful silver, the snake's tail was wrapped about one of the lion's paws; it's head was on a level with the lion's eyes. They were looking at each other, no hostility between them, as though his two Houses were equal, and at peace.
Harry's smile reached his eyes. "Draco's right, that is marvelous."
Snape seemed to be watching him carefully, Harry thought. "You feel no apprehension at the thought of wearing it?"
"No. None. I am both and it might as well be acknowledged. I mean, I know people know already, but my friends are probably going to try to ignore the whole thing. I'm not about to do the same." Harry traced the snake with a fingertip, thinking. "It's a really good idea combining the two symbols. How did you think of it?"
Draco scoffed. "How did he think of it? I like that! It was my idea. You were going on about cobbling scarves together or some such nonsense, and I said to just add a snake to your crest and be done with it, remember?"
Snape nodded. "Though now of course the crest will serve far more than a mere symbolic function."
"Yeah. I really am both inside," Harry agreed. "It's not just because of the adoption." An impatient noise from Draco had Harry glancing at the Slytherin boy.
"It's more than that, Harry," Draco drawled, smug as always though he looked pleased to Harry's eye. "Your powers, remember? You happen to have quite an urgent need for a snake sometimes. What did you think you were going to do, cart Sals along with you to all your classes so you could cast spells?"
"I thought," Harry drawled right back, "that I'd make sure to have a drawing to look at. A doodle, on the cover of each textbook--"
"That wouldn't help you in the Great Hall during meals," Snape pointed out, elegantly seating himself and crossing his long legs.
"I don't incant much over mashed potatoes."
"You'll need to if you're attacked." Snape gave him a longish look, those dark eyes challenging him to think about the matter.
"Yes, sir," Harry quietly murmured. Then, sensing that his father needed more from him than that, he added, "We can't really stop people from knowing about the Parseltongue, but I suppose it would be best if they didn't know how much I need a snake to make it emerge. Cunning, right. The crest'll come in handy for that."
The Potions Master smiled in approval. "Look in the pocket."
When Harry did, he came up another snake-and-lion crest.
"For your Quidditch robes," Snape confirmed. "Let me know if you need further ones. I do not want you to be without, is that clear?"
"Yeah, put one on your pajamas, too," Draco joked.
Laughing at the image that conjured up, Harry thought to wonder, "Where'd you ever hear of Diet Coke, anyway?"
"Dudley wanted one, remember?" Draco shrugged. "Actually, even before that I used to overhear your little girlfriend whinging on in the Great Hall about how she wished she could have one."
"For pity's sake, will you get it through your thick skull once and for all, she's not my girlfriend!"
"Sure she isn't. You only told the casewitch that you liked her--"
"That was misdirection and you know it. But speaking of liking her, why were you listening to her during meals, anyway? Maybe you're the one who likes her!"
Draco shivered. "Don't make me ill, Potter. Now, back to what matters. Did you happen to notice that when I said Diet Coke, Steyne there got a funny look in his eyes? Like he wasn't really sure what it was?"
Harry thought back. "Yeah, I got the feeling that degree in Muggle Studies or no, he didn't actually know all that much about Muggles."
"Why would a Slytherin pursue a degree like that, I'd like to know--"
"There you go again with the attitude, Draco. There's nothing wrong with Muggle Studies, and there's nothing wrong with Ron's father being fascinated by the topic, and while we're at it, there's nothing wrong with being poor, either!"
"Thank Merlin I'm not, though," Draco sneered.
Repressing an urge to sigh again, Harry turned to his father. "Thank you very much for the new cloak, Professor."
"Again with Professor?" Draco huffed.
"You said you were going to stay out of what I call Severus!"
"I concur that you should," Snape put in with a stern glance at the Slytherin boy. "Not only is my relationship with Harry mine and not yours, but it also might interest you to know that his verbal habits can be quite telling. For example," at this he turned back to Harry, "you tend to revert to Professor when you are feeling unsettled, worried, or insecure. So what is the matter?"
Harry thought of saying that nothing was, but his father's steady dark gaze challenged him to really consider the question. "I guess I feel sort of... strange, getting a present like this."
"I thought you were comfortable by now at the thought that I would provide for you."
"I am. Well, mostly..." Harry chewed his lip. "It's just that I forgot your own birthday, sir. I mean, Dad."
Snape shook his head slightly. "It's hardly accurate to say you forgot when in fact I hadn't ever mentioned the date to you, Harry. I honestly don't care whether people notice my birthday or not."
"I'm not people," Harry complained. "I'm your son!"
"So you are." Snape paused for a moment. "Perhaps you could help me with some correspondence? As I recall, you seemed to think my usual style of writing was a bit much."
A bad, bad feeling settled in Harry's chest. "You don't mean....?"
"Indeed." Snape's black eyes glittered as he flicked his wand and summoned parchment. "I do believe it is time we dealt with Miss Granger."
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Coming Soon in A Year Like None Other:
Chapter Sixty-Four: Duels and Deals
Comments very welcome. Remember, you can leave a review on the group or site where you saw this story, or email them to aylno.reviews@gmail.com.
Aspen in the Sunlight
Chapter 64: Duels and Deals
http://archive.skyehawke.com/story.php?no=5036&chapter=64
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A Year Like None Other
by Aspen in the Sunlight
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