Harry rubbed at the smarting spot and wondered if he should cry. He was 11, after all, and it was just a single smack, so he decided it was okay to remain dry eyed. "Erm, Pr'fessor?" he ventured cautiously. His professor still looked awfully grim and grumpy.
"What?" Now the boy would surely want to go and whine at the Headmaster or Weasleys about how unfair and cruel he had been. Or perhaps he intended to ask Poppy to heal his backside?
"D'you think it would be okay if we joined the others on the tour of the castle?" Harry looked up at his guardian hopefully. Now that he had a parent of his own тАУ sort of тАУ he really wanted to show him off, and taking part in such an obvious parent/child activity was the sort of thing he had always dreamed of doing.
Snape frowned down at him. The brat actually wanted him to come along? Surely he had misheard. Why would Potter want to be accompanied by the greasy bat of the dungeons?
"Pleeeeeease?" Harry begged, forgetting to feign discomfort.
"Oh, very well," Snape huffed. He was in absolutely no condition to deny the brat anything. He just wants me to go along with him so he has an excuse for missing his morning classes, he told himself. That must be it.
Harry's face lit up. Grabbing his professor's hand, he pulled him out of his chair and dragged him towards the door. "What will you have me read in my detentions?" he asked curiously. "Will I have to write essays on everything, or can we talk about some of them? Can I loan the books to Hermione and Ron when I'm done? Where do you think Voldewhatsit has gone? Did you see Professor Flitwick flying yesterday? Can you do that? Can you teach me to do that? What was the spell that Quirrell used on the pumpkin? What would it have done to Madame Pomfrey if the pumpkin hadn't been there? Do you think Hagrid will be upset that he was being nice to Voldesnort? What aboutтАж"
Snape grumbled as he was tugged along. Little monster. He was only permitting this because it was obvious the boy was traumatized. Potter would never want to be seen with him in public if he weren't suffering from delayed shock. Better to just let the hysteria run its course. And, maybe, to enjoy it just a little bit while it lasted. Once the boy came to his senses, he'd doubtless be sulky and furious about his detention тАУ as what child wouldn't? тАУ but just for now, he could pretend that the boy actually liked being with him and that the guardianship would last beyond Black's exoneration.
Snape knew in his heart of hearts that he would never be able to compete with the mutt. Black was funny and lighthearted and charming. Everything he was not. And beyond that, Black had the imprimatur of Potter's parents. Of course the boy would want to honor them by living with their choice for his guardian.
Knowing that Potter would want to live with Black didn't mean Snape wouldn't fight tooth and nail to keep the boy, but it just meant that if he succeeded, Harry would be bitter and resentful at being kept from his godfather. And if he lost, it meant that he'd never see the child again as both Black and Harry would view him as the enemy. Either way, Harry would never again laugh and smile and pull at his hand the way he was doing right now. Not that it mattered. Not that he cared about the brat. But now, just for a few moments, he could imagine what might have beenтАж
TBCтАж
*Chapter 32*: Chapter 32
Harry and his professor found the others in the trophy room. Harry rather ostentatiously joined the group, making sure that everyone saw that Professor Snape was with him. "Sorry, Professor," he said to McGonagall. "My guardian needed to talk to me. That's why we're a little late joinin' you an' the other parents." He felt as if his chest would burst from happiness тАУ this more than made up for never having anyone to sit with him on any of the "parents' nights" at his school in Surrey.
Minerva McGonagall fought down her own smile. Good heavens, this would never do. Severus wasn't the only one with a reputation to uphold. Yet, the pride and happiness on Harry's face as he oh-so-casually held onto Snape's hand were impossible to miss. Nor was she oblivious to the fact that, for all his studied nonchalance, Snape was making no effort to wrest free of the boy's grasp.
Arthur and Molly noticed and nudged each other, as did Ron and Hermione. Only the Grangers didn't realize anything was up, but they were still adjusting to wandering ghosts and talking portraits.
As the tour made its way through the castle, Ron managed to get Harry on his own. "Are you okay, mate? Did heтАж y'know?" Ron mimed a whack, and Harry nodded sheepishly. "Ouch! I'm sorry, mate. You shouldn't've been the only one to catch it."
"It was my idea," Harry pointed out, "an' besides, you had a concussion. It wouldn't be right for you to get walloped on top of that."
"Well, it's not my head that would get it," Ron pointed out dryly, "but I won't argue with you. Did he go spare?"
"He was pretty upset," Harry admitted. "I've got a week of detention and a set of lines, but considering what we did, it could've been a lot worse."
"Yeah! And at least he punished you himself and didn't leave you to the Headmaster!"
Harry shuddered. The Headmaster would probably have shipped him back to the Dursleys if his professor hadn't been there.
Then another thought struck Ron. "Blimey, Harry, you'd better stay away from Hermione's folks after what you had for breakfast. Didn't you figure out who they were before you got your food?"
Harry stared at him in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
The pureblooded boy paled and leaned close to whisper, "They're dentists! An' you ate one of those pastries! You better watch out that they don't catch you an' drill holes in your teeth."
Harry fought down his giggles. That was why Ron had been so polite all morning? Because he was scared witless?
Mrs Granger turned to Professor Snape. "I gather that the children got mixed up in something very dangerous. Do you think it's safe for them to remain here? I must admit we're considering taking Hermione home with us and finding another option for her. I mean, it's one thing for her to go away to school, but if there's danger hereтАж" She looked at him in appeal. "This is all so new to us. We want to do the right thing, but we certainly don't want to risk our little girl. I can see you feel similarly about your Harry тАУ what do you plan to do?"
Snape nearly choked. HIS Harry? Obviously the Muggle was truly confused. "I believe that your daughter will be safe if she remains here. Yesterday's events wereтАжimpossible to foresee."
Mrs Granger sighed. "I hope so. Hermione doesn't want to leave. For the first time she has friends as well as good gradesтАж And I have been very impressed with how well-mannered and respectful the children are here. Though they do seem a bit high-strung, especially young Ron over there."
As they spoke, the bell for classes rang, and students spilled out into the hallway. As usual, they dodged around the Potions Master, but they were less careful about the other adults. That is, until they caught sight of Hermione holding her father's hand, and realized who the tall man must be. Immediately, most of the students тАУ particularly purebloods тАУ blanched and stiffened to attention. "Hello, Hermione. Hello, sir," they gulped, flattening themselves against the wall to give the Grangers a wide berth.
"See what I mean?" Mrs Granger whispered to Snape. "I've never seen anything like it! Such courtesy!"