Chapter Text
He watched as Black touched his Severus, again. He wanted to scream. He had been trying to get Severus' attention for almost two years. However, his Dogfather got hired by Dumbledore to teach Astronomy and Severus' attention goes to the mutt. He thought they hated each other. Harry didn't understand it. Severus ignored Lupin yet was willing to allow his Dogfather to touch him. He didn't understand why Severus could forgive his Dogfather but not him. He had hoped that because Severus was talking to his Dogfather he would talk to him.
He knew it was jealousy but he had wanted Severus since he discovered he was the Half-Blood Prince. He fell in love with the man not because of his looks but for the man's brains. When he discovered the truth he had tried to deny his new found crush but he couldn't. It grew, instead. He believed he had made progress with Severus. Granted, Severus still always called him Potter and made references to his father but not nearly as often. Maybe he read it wrong? Maybe he was being nicer because of his Dogfather? Maybe he read the whole situation with Severus wrong? He just wished Severus returned his feelings.
He was in his second year of teaching Runes. Lupin and his wife, Tonks, teaching Defense. After the war, Dumbledore had provided those he felt served him best with great positions. Harry always felt Dumbledore did it as a way to secure his own position of power. The staff didn't seem as united as it appeared when he attending Hogwarts as a student. Pomona didn't speak to his Dogfather or Lupin. He wasn't exactly sure as to the reason. Lupin, Tonks, and his Dogfather spent their time talking to Minerva and Dumbledore. He amended that thought, his Dogfather talked to Severus, he touched Severus, and Harry didn't like it.
Dumbledore kept saying how happy the two of them looked. How sweet they were together. How happy he was that the two finally overcame their mutual hate of each other. Dumbledore would start how love is the most powerful of magic lecture. Harry had wanted to throw something at Dumbledore when he would talk about a thin line between hate and love.
Harry was thankful this year was over in two weeks. He touched the rolled-up piece of parchment in his robes. It was time, he couldn't keep living like this. He was sick of being used. He laid his fork down, he couldn't eat anymore. He pushed back and quietly left the Great Hall. The next two weeks passed in agonizing slowness as students finished their NEWTs and OWLs and were now getting ready to leave. He was a bit surprised that he hadn't heard from Dumbledore about his resignation. Dumbledore hadn't paid attention to him since he defeated Voldemort. It didn't surprise Harry that Dumbledore basically ignored him except when he needed something. He always knew the man saw him as a pawn. He even had to get hired by the Board for the Runes position as Dumbledore doubted Harry's Masters.
He had his bags packed, shrunk, and in his pocket. He was standing at the door, watching the last of the students leaving. He just had to give his final grades and he was free. He didn't want to interfere with Severus' happiness and if his dogfather made him happy, Severus deserved that happiness. Severus earned the right to have someone that made him happy. He wasn't going to prevent Severus from his happiness.
He heard the train whistle and saw it start slowly leaving the station. He could see Remus with his arms around Tonk's shoulder with Teddy riding on her hip. He saw out of the corner of his eye that his dogfather was now placing his arm around Severus, following Lupin's lead. He wondered if his dogfather ever had any original ideas. He turned away and headed for the Headmaster's office to drop off his report.
"Harry, I was about to have some tea. Care to join me?" Dumbledore greeted him.
"No, thank you. I am here to drop off my report. My classroom is cleaned so is everything else." Harry placed the thick stack of parchment and scrolls on Dumbledore's desk.
"Very good." Dumbledore picked up the items and dropped them in his overflowing inbox. "I was telling Minerva how well you have been doing."
Harry didn't reply as he realized he had been correct. Dumbledore hadn't even opened his letter of resignation or if he did, he elected to ignore it. Harry wondered how Hogwarts even managed to remain open.
"I will send you a new contract over the summer. I am sure the Board will be impressed with your work. A few members have mentioned how well your students have been doing."
Harry knew what the man meant. Dumbledore had never forgiven him for applying to the Board for the job. Dumbledore usually went out and hired his Professors before the Board was even aware of the job openings so now Dumbledore felt that Harry had betrayed him. He had listened to the lecture enough. It usually started with "my boy, if you wanted a job, you could have come to me." Ignoring the fact that Harry had come to him for the job opening. Dumbledore told that Runes wasn't his strength and if he would wait for a bit longer then he could have the DADA job. Harry had no desire for the DADA position.
"I look forward to reading it." Harry knew the man wouldn't be sending the contract for the Rune position if he could help it. Dumbledore wanted Harry in the DADA position.
Harry had heard that lecture about how it would look for Hogwarts if the DADA professor was the one who defeated Voldemort. Harry didn't wait for another question but turned on his heels and left the office. Oh, he was aware he was being rude. He bet in the eyes of the staff, he would appear ungrateful for not staying at Hogwarts and wait patiently for the DADA position. He had heard the rumors, the same type of rumors about him were the ones he had heard when he was a student, concerning how Severus wanted the DADA position. Maybe if Severus wanted the DADA position he would get it now. He wasn't sure if Severus wanted the position but the man was great at DADA but was passionate about potions. He knew he had learned a lot from Severus during the year he taught and in private lessons.
He knew Lupin and Tonks were leaving this year. Tonks was pregnant again, and Lupin had finally finished his book. Lupin was going to be doing some promotional work for his book. Harry had read it and was impressed by it. He knew Lupin had the skills to make a great book and was glad he pushed the man to do so. He hoped Lupin would continue to write educational books. The wizarding world needed them.
He was almost to the gates of Hogwarts. He looked at the two dragons. He turned back, took a long, last look at Hogwarts. "Take care of him." He apparated away.
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Aug:
Dumbledore entered the staff meeting and looked around. "Has anyone seen Harry?" He had hired a new runes professor. He moved Harry to the DADA professorship.
"No, I haven't. I have been writing to him but I get nothing in return." Black answered.
"I haven't seen him all summer." Minerva stated. "His quarters are empty."
Dumbledore frowned. "I see." He knew the boy wanted to work at Hogwarts.
"Albus?" Poppy was one of the few people that Harry spoke to since he returned as a Professor. She had seen how the others basically ignored him. Even Minerva. When Harry had questions about rules, students, or basically anything, Harry had tried to speak to Albus and Minerva. They rebuffed him with things like "just handle it" or "I'm busy."
"I need to check something." Dumbledore left the staff meeting that he had called and headed back to his office. He started looking through the massive pile of unopened letters and found the one he was looking for. He opened it and read it. He cursed. He couldn't believe it. He needed Harry for the DADA position. No one would dare to threaten their world if Harry was at Hogwarts.
"It's your own fault." Phineas Black informed Dumbledore from his frame. "You were warned about how you were treating him and how you treated him as a student." He got up and left his frame.
"Albus?" Minerva entered the room. She saw a letter in his hand.
"Harry resigned, in June." Dumbledore showed her the letter. It was simple. It stated that since his contract was up and he was declining to renew.
"Why?"
"You are joking?" The Sorting Hat replied.
"Hat." Dumbledore warned.
"Fine but you drove him away." The Sorting Hat turned himself away from them.
Black and Severus entered the office. "What is going on?" Black asked.
"Harry resigned in June. Albus just found his resignation." Minerva explained.
"Why?" Black asked. "I thought you said he would take over the DADA position."
"Idiots." One of the former Headmasters muttered.
"What is going on?" Severus asked.
"Yes, explain your splendid plan. A plan that was born out of resentment for the Board hiring Harry as the Rune professor." Phineas appeared back in his frame.
"What plan? Why wasn't I or anyone else informed of it?" Severus looked at the three of them. "Black, you better start explaining."
"Albus believed that Harry would be better as the DADA professor, he is a natural. Albus wanted to hire him before the Board realized the position was empty again. Harry had already submitted his application with the Board." Black explained.
"Harry had to submit his application to the Board because Albus told Harry that he didn't think his master's in Rune was based on his skills. Albus told Harry they gave it to him because he was the Savior. He told Harry he would hire a competent professor for runes. He wanted Harry to use his natural skills in Defense. Harry told Albus that he didn't have a master's in Defense. Albus stated that he would arrange for Harry to attain it before the start of the semester as he already proved his worth in that area. Harry politely declined while many would have been furious." Phineas stated.
"You didn't?" Minerva asked.
"It doesn't fall just on his shoulders that the boy resigned. How many times did he come to both of you asking for advice on students, classes, and books? He even came to you seeking your advice on how to handle the house rivalries. He got excuses tossed at him and was left to do it on his own." Phineas was glaring at them. "You, Sirius, he is your godson and a Black. You haven't even spoken to him since you arrived here. Too busy focusing on making sure Lupin didn't feel that you were upset about his relationship. The rest of the staff followed your example in regards to how they treated Harry."
"So he turned tail and ran because he wasn't getting his way? Figures." Severus snapped.
"Grow up, Severus." Phineas commented. "He isn't James. He certainly didn't turn tail and run. He finished his contract and since Albus there only offered him the DADA position, he left. He doesn't have his Masters's in DADA, he has it in Runes. The lot of you have been trying to create that boy into whatever image you imagine him to be. He has never been allowed to be just Harry. He has always been treated as if was the Savior and the Defeater of Voldemort." He looked at them. "You pushed him to be an Auror, he didn't want that. You pushed your views on the war, life, guilted the boy into returning to those nasty muggles. You knew he was abused and you made him return there. He did what you required of him when he defeated Voldemort. You couldn't just leave him alone, you still keep pushing and pushing. You couldn't even let him find himself someone to love or do I need to mention Ms. Weasley, sorry Mrs. Malfoy now."
"What do you mean abused?" Severus asked Phineas. He knew some of this stuff the man mentioned. He, himself, had wondered why Dumbledore wanted the boy in the DADA position.
"What you think those scars just came from Voldemort?" Phineas glared at Dumbledore. "Tell them."
"Albus, I warned you they were the worst sort of muggles. What did they do to him?"
"The question would be easier if you asked what didn't they do to him." The Sorting Hat informed them. "There was a reason why I wanted the boy in Slytherin. Dumbledore had to make sure he went to Gryffindor. He sent Hagrid to get the boy and get him his school supplies."
"Hagrid? You told me you would make sure he got someone to take him for his school supplies. I had assumed since I had to be away that week that you would make sure it was another Head of House. It certainly explains why Harry never got the muggle-born books. He should have since you told Petunia in a letter to keep him unaware of our world."
"Petunia, as in Petunia Evans?" Severus and Black asked.
"Yes." Minerva looked at them. "You know her?"
"She hates magic. She loathes it. She hated Lily. She didn't even attend their wedding. She attended the rehearsal party as it was at the Evans house. Their mother forced her to attend. Let's just say, it wasn't a pleasant night for those involved in the wedding party. We all heard her berate Lily in their bedroom for marrying a freak, for shaming their name by even associating with anyone freaky." Black glared at Dumbledore. "You knew that as you were there."
"I am sure she loved Harry." Dumbledore replied.
"It's the lemon drops. It has to be the lemon drops. He is delusional." Minerva picked up the candy dish and banished the lemon drops in it. "I have listened to you for years, telling me how everything is for the greater good. I have stood by you, believing you were correct. However, Albus, you were very wrong in this and we were wrong in following your lead. Harry paid again for your mistakes."
"We need to find him." Black stated.
"Good luck on that." Phineas responded.
"What does that mean?" Black asked.
"It means that the boy is a lot smarter than any of you gave him credit for. Did any of you ever bother to find out his Mastery level in Runes? Did anyone of you ever wonder why the boy went for Runes when he never took the class here? He is listed as the youngest ranked Master holder in Runes. He beat your record by a month Severus."
"Don't forget to mention he has journeyman's rank in Healing and has been researching parsel healing spells for a Masters in Healing." A new voice joined them. "He is very good."
"Who are you?" Dumbledore asked.
The portrait smirked. "Figure it out." He left the frame.
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"Master Harry Potter, Sir, there is another letter from Mr. Black." Dobby popped into the room. They were currently in Lyon, France, researching some ancient texts on healing.
"I am sure he will keep sending them. Just return them." Harry didn't want to hear about how much the man loved Severus. He certainly didn't want to hear they were going to be bonded. The very idea made him sick with jealousy.
"Newspaper arrived, also." Dobby put it down on Harry's desk.
Harry picked it up and was a bit surprised by the headline. Dumbledore hadn't read his resignation letter and they had no one to teach DADA. Rita was having a field day with the news. She had always believed that Dumbledore was crazy and she was enjoying the latest bit of news.
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Severus was furious with himself. He has spent the last two years pining for Harry. He believed Black's plan of making the boy jealous would work. He should have known better than to trust a plan by Black. Why did he believe a plan of Black's would work? He had to be an idiot to believe in it.
He equally furious with Dumbledore and Minerva. They were the ones who kept insisting that Harry was doing a fine job and didn't need any guidance. They kept telling him that Harry had Black and Lupin. He had wanted to speak to Harry. He wanted to tell Harry about his exploits during his first few years of teaching. He wanted to tell Harry about some of the funniest things students had tried with him in his first year as a professor.
"Severus, you know how to find him." The nameless person appeared in the only frame he had in his room. He had been watching Severus for decades. He knew Severus and he had assisted Severus numerous times.
Severus looked at the frame. "Sal, you know something."
"I know a lot of things. Now is the time to act. You know how to find him." Salazar Slytherin arched a brow. Severus was a Slytherin, he didn't have to spell it out for the man.
Severus thought for a few minutes. He did. "Dobby."
Dobby popped into Severus' quarters. "It's about time. Come on, I will take you to him." Before Severus could answer Dobby popped him to Harry.
"It's about time." Godric stepped into the frame.
"Yes, it is. You would have thought with all the warnings we gave Dumbledore, he would have learned by now." Rowena said from behind them. "Now, that we have last of our heirs united, let's see what they will do."
"Like she doesn't know." Helena muttered as she pulled Sal toward her. "Come let's have tea."