Harry felt a little guilty then, remembering that it was only the headmaster's insistence that had made him decide to talk to Snape. On the other hand, though, Snape wouldn't enjoy knowing that Harry had discussed all of this with Albus Dumbledore first, so . . . He moved his fingers to hold hands better.
"You're growing up and it's good to see," Snape continued, squeezing his fingers lightly. "Do you recall, Harry, when we went to Surrey near the beginning of this year? I complained that you didn't ask for help, and you retorted that you didn't ask for things you wouldn't get. But now, I think you know there is help for you. In any respect. Really, you can come to me with anything." His dark eyes glimmered. "Even if it necessitates your calling me an arsehole."
Now Harry felt ten times guiltier. He didn't deserve this praise, not when he hadn't been grown up enough to talk to his father on his own. The headmaster's poking and prodding had basically forced the issue.
Harry grimaced. Snape talking about the beginning of the year made him feel just awful. Because he remembered deciding way back then to be more mature. And the way he'd handled his problem with Aran . . . that hadn't been mature at all. "I feel bad I didn't talk to you about all of this when it first began," Harry murmured, ducking his head.
Snape let go of his hands and leaned back. "Yes, that is a concern." When Harry glanced up, his father's keen, penetrating gaze was assessing him. "Am I correct in thinking that Aran's odd desire for a conference with Lucius instead of myself, as Draco's father, had something to do with this ongoing conflict over Parseltongue?"
Definitely, Snape was too smart by half. Or maybe something else was going on. "No fair reading my mind like that. I'm too tired to Occlude right now!"
"I wasn't using Legilimency."
"Oh." Harry's lips twisted. "No fair tricking me, then. Though I guess you weren't doing that either, really. Anyway, yeah, you're right. Aran was fed up with my lousy attitude and that pretty much led to the whole Lucius thing happening."
Severus flicked a glance at the parchment. "I fail to understand why your attitude would reflect on Draco, though. Perhaps you could help me circle the pitch, as it were?"
Harry was pretty impressed with the Quidditch analogy. Maybe that was what had him admitting the truth, though he was careful to put it in a way that wouldn't get his brother into trouble. "Oh, yeah. Well, Draco was standing up for me. Actually he told me to stand up for myself, which I think I needed to do. I started using Parseltongue in class whether Aran approved or not, and Draco backed me, and Aran knew you'd support the both of us on that. I mean, he was so scared of confronting you that he wouldn't even take points from Slytherin. So he firecalled Lucius to complain about Draco."
Severus nodded. "You realise then, that by not coming to me so that I could straighten this out with your teacher, you opened the door for him to summon Lucius Malfoy into Hogwarts."
Harry stiffened, even though his father had spoken in a calm voice. "I wasn't intending for that to happen!"
"No, but you made it possible."
"Look, it's not very fair of you to try to make me feel guilty, when half the reason I didn't come talk to you was that I didn't want to make you feel guilty for all those years of shite!"
Snape's smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "Were you under the impression that I was disposed at all times to be fair?" He didn't wait for an answer. "In this case the consequences of your reluctance to talk to me led to extreme hazard for yourself and your brother."
Harry made a face, but since his father had a point, he didn't argue further. "All right, then, fine. Speaking of consequences, what's mine to be? And don't forget I let you off the ten thousand lines I could have said I wanted you to write."
The attempt to joke fell flat. His father just stared at him. "Sorry. I know it's serious," Harry finally said.
"I rather think events as they already unfolded were traumatic enough," answered Snape. "However, even if Lucius Malfoy had never set foot in the castle yesterday, I would have no intention of punishing you. You either trust me enough as your father to come talk to me when needed, or you don't. The suggestion that I would chastise you on that account is anathema to me."
Harry wasn't sure what that last word meant, but given how offended his father sounded, he could guess. "I didn't mean you'd punish me for that," he thought he'd better explain. Even if it wasn't so Slytherin of him. Snape's feelings were more important than strategy. "I meant for . . . um . . ." He made a vague gesture at the parchment.
"Incendio," said Snape calmly. "You do actually understand caninae, I think. And if you can't yet conjure them we'll work on it over the summer. So, enough of that." The Potions Master's eyes narrowed. "You have another concern."
"Draco and the water he threw," said Harry, leaning forward as he spoke very quietly. "Don't punish him for that. Please, Dad. I mean, you accused him of something really evil when just yesterday he was tormented by someone who should have loved him, just because he was doing the right thing, fighting as best he could for the side of Light. For me. I mean, he suffered to save me. That's got to be more important than one glass of water."
Snape nodded. "I do believe it is."
As long as he'd won that point, Harry figured he might as well go on. "For that matter, I don't think we should be bringing up Venetimorica again. He's learned his lesson. Don't you think?"
"Anything else?" asked Snape, a little sarcastically. "Since you appear to believe you know more about raising him than I do?"
"Nah." Harry grinned. "You're doing all right. Especially with the XL. I think Draco needed something like that to get him up out of the doldrums."
"I think you're playing the good son again."
"What?" Harry thought about that for a moment, then lowered his voice again. "No, I'm actually really happy you did that for Draco, Dad. I'm just not as . . . um, acquisitive as he is, I think. I mean, if I really wanted an XL I could go buy one. Well, assuming you'd give me my key for something like that. But I'd rather stick with the broom Sirius gave me. You were right about that."
"Yes, I know that things other than material goods mean the most to you," said Snape, nodding. "When I bought the XL I fully intended to give you something you would find just as valuable. Hence, your friends will be most welcome to visit here during the summer, Harry."
Harry smiled. "Oh, that's really great news. Why didn't you mention that earlier?"
Snape shrugged. "At that point I wanted you and your brother outside enjoying yourselves. I thought Draco would protest."
"Oh, thanks," came a sarcastic shout from the bedroom. A moment later, Draco strolled out. He looked as though he'd washed his hair properly. "Haven't I been sweet as canary creams to your irritating friends?"
"No," said Harry, laughing. "You have been decent, though. So that's all right."
"To have Granger and Weasley ruining my summer though?" Draco made a face. "I'll put up with it, I suppose, but only because you're my brother."
"How magnanimous of you," drawled Snape.
"And for the record, I am not acquisitive," Draco went on, tossing his head. "I merely have sufficient good taste to appreciate the finer things in life. I shared the XL with Harry, didn't I?"
"Yes, you were perfection itself Draco," said Harry, grinning. "There, all better? You really shouldn't eavesdrop unless you're prepared to hear yourself discussed, you know."
"Well, if the two of you wouldn't gossip like a pair of witches in a froth, I wouldn't eavesdrop," retorted Draco. "Now, how about some cocoa?" He grinned. "I bet we could even persuade Severus to let us have it with some lovely crËme de menthe. You know, so we'll sleep soundly in our beds."