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Christmas holidays could not arrive quickly enough. Despite the fact that the Dueling Club had only met the Thursday before the end of term, the aftermath was immediate. There was a race to secure tickets to the Hogwarts Express for the Christmas holidays, and Harry wondered if at least some wouldn't return in January.
It hadn't helped that Justin and Nearly Headless Nick had been attacked the following morning. At the news of their final Herbology lesson of the term being cancelled due to snow (Professor Sprout hadn't trusted the second years to fit socks and scarves on the growing Mandrakes, especially as they would be used in a potion in a few months), Harry had considered trying to track Justin down--but after hearing the second year Hufflepuffs denounce him as the Heir of Slytherin, he'd crept back to the Gryffindor common room.
When he told Severus about this later, his guardian praised him.
"You showed prudence. Had you not returned, you might have been witness to the attack, or even the next victim," Severus murmured, wrapping Harry in a hug.
"I reckon. In the meantime, though, everyone thinks that after failing to kill Justin with a giant snake, I set the real monster on him," Harry murmured into Severus's robes.
Severus chuckled as he tousled Harry's hair. "Couldn't you have waited until after holidays to attack him?"
"Don’t say that in front of Malfoy, please," Harry pleaded, but he couldn't hold back a snicker.
His guardian solemnly gave his word.
By Saturday morning, there was a near stampede leaving for the train station in Hogsmeade. Hermione waa among them, as she had already planned to return home for Christmas well before the latest attack.
Secretly, Harry was a bit relieved. Whoever was causing the attacks, Hermione would be safe for two weeks. Who knows, maybe there would be news by the time she returned.
Ron and his siblings planned to remain at school, but Percy had made it very clear that he was doing so to support the teachers. Harry, Ron, and the twins had rolled their eyes at this, but Ginny appeared nearly as worried as many of the students (of various blood lineage) who had left for the holidays.
The twins found the idea that Harry was the heir to be a great way to tease him--by loudly announcing his arrival in front of the other students. They referred to Harry as a "seriously evil wizard" and asked him what it was like to have tea in the Chamber of Secrets with his fanged servant.
Only Percy and Ginny remained unamused by their antics, which was a shame, because joking about it was far more pleasant than the alternative.
The only downside of the next two weeks was that Malfoy and his croneys would also be remaining at school. They could ignore them most of the time, but not the Christmas feast.
Harry and Ron were determined not to let that bring down their spirits. Just as the previous year, they were the only Gryffindor boys in the second year remaining behind, and the common room was, if not vacant, certainly sparse enough for them to get the most comfortable armchairs by the fireplace. They spent their mornings there--on the nights Harry slept in Severus's quarters, and Ron was only just rising when Harry returned.
In the afternoons, they went to Severus's quarters. While Ron had not been as terrified as Neville, he'd certainly felt rather uneasy at first, going by his reddening ears and rebuking of his Chess players whenever he and Harry played. Once, Harry had beat him quite easily, but he doubted that his own skills had improved that much.
Severus, for his part, took pains to differentiate between his persona in lessons and with the two of them. Not that he could be openly affectionate around Ron, who had gone so still he might have been Petrified the one time Severus had placed a hand on his shoulder.
Since then, Severus always gave Ron plenty of space.
The Wednesday afternoon before Christmas, the twins approached, George holding out a large piece of parchment.
"Hello," Harry greeted, glancing from one fourth year to the other.
They hadn't seen much of the twins over the holidays. Ginny, still looking a bit pale, sometimes stayed in the common room with her friends, schoolbooks, or both. While the twins showed up at meals, Harry could count on one hand the number of times he'd seen Fred or George otherwise. Then again, Lee Jordan had not remained at Hogwarts, and Ron told Harry that the fourth years had received a lot of school assignments that year.
"Ah, there they are," George said, glancing from Harry to Ron. "Join us upstairs, all right?"
Harry gave Ron a puzzled look, only to receive one of his own.
"If you fancy a chat, why can't it be here?" Ron pressed.
George folded up the parchment, then placed it in one of his robe's pockets.
"You don't want that, really," Fred insisted. "But if you'd rather talk in your room, we don't mind, do we, George?"
George shook his head. "Not a bit."
Ron turned to Harry. "What d'you think? Me, I'd rather talk in our room..."
"Er, all right."
Any desire he had to see the fourth year dormitory, which judging by theirs, would be identical with the possible addition or removal of beds, was tampered with his sudden unease.
Fred gave a dramatic gesture. "Lead the way, your great royal heir of evilness."
Feeling a bit better, Harry grinned. He and Ron took the stairs, checking behind them once or twice to make sure the twins were following. Once inside the room, Ron shut the door.
"What's all this about?" he asked, crossing his arms slightly.
"We've noticed the two of you have been in Snape's private chambers a lot during the holidays--" Fred began, but Ron cut him off.
"How do you even know where his private chambers are?"
"George?" Fred prompted.
George reached into his pocket to remove the parchment...only it wasn't just parchment. Harry gasped--this was a map! A detailed map of every room in the school. That would have been impressive enough, but there were dots, accompanied by names, that were moving!
"You made this?" Harry asked, impressed despite himself.
The twins laughed. "That's far from our mischief making abilities, at least as of now," Fred explained. "No, we nicked it from Filch's office in our first year. Took us ages to figure out how to use it."
"What do you mean? Everything's right there, isn't it?" Ron asked, now looking closer.
"Ah, but that's because we've already unlocked it. Otherwise, it just looks like an old piece of parchment. I'll demonstrate." George cleared his throat. "Mischief managed." The map went blank, and, sure enough, looked like an old piece of parchment. After waiting for Harry and Ron to examine it, he spoke again. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."
Harry thought the map would appear again, and it did, but first came an introduction from...Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs.
"Who are they?" he and Ron whispered at the same time.
The idea that the enchanted map map might be charmed to overhear them didn't seem too far off.
"Dunno. But they taught us more about this castle than any other teacher. Oh, and you don't need to whisper, as it doesn't overhear you." George smirked. "Not really, anyway. You need the password to activate it and turn it off, and but it gives passwords to rooms as you approach them."
"That's so cool," Ron murmured, clearly envious. "What do you use it for?"
"Hogsmeade, when there is a need and no upcoming weekend. You generally only get about two per term," Fred explained, "and you can only make dungbombs last for so long! There are seven passages outside of the castle that take you straight to Hogsmeade."
"Mind, we found out the hard way that old Filch knew about four, and you can't use the fifth, as the Whomping Willow was planted over it. But the other two are fair game. We've been going well before our third year," Fred said, proudly. "Reckoned we've memorized nearly the whole thing by now."
Harry nodded, slowly. He had to admit he was impressed. Also, even though he and Ron would have to explain about Severus (and Severus would have to know...), this time, he hadn't been careless. After all, who would have guessed the twins had uncovered a map of the castle and beyond?
"So. About you and Snape," George pressed.
Harry avoided their gaze as he thought hard.
"We know you had the misfortune of spending the last month of the summer holidays with him," Fred said, "and you lived to tell the tale."
"Yeah," Harry said, after a pause. "Look, I--need to find something!"
The twins raised their eyebrows, but nodded.
"We're not holding you captive, Harry," George said, carefully.
Maybe not, but Harry could hardly reveal the truth with letting Severus know, first.
He crossed the few steps towards his bed, then retrieved the book Severus had given him. They'd used it a few times before, so Harry was used to the sudden warmth under his hand.
Please be near, please be near, please be near, Harry prayed, even though he doubted Severus could hear his thoughts.
"Dad? You there?"
"Yes. Is everything all right?"
Harrt let out a deep breath. "The twins have been asking questions. They saw me and Ron leave your quarters."
A pause. He could picture Severus's face hardening, his eyes narrowing as he attempted to understand.
Severus's reply came quickly. "They were spying on you?"
"Not exactly...They found a map that shows where everyone is."
"I'll be right over, unless you wish to handle it another way?"
Harry shook his head. "Do you need the password?" he wrote.
"Harry, I am the head of Slytherin. Do you suppose I need a password to enter the Gryffindor tower? Or any head of house?"
"You’re right. I'm sorry."
"No need to apologize for something you couldn't have possibly known, Harry! I will be there shortly. Please be in the Gryffindor common room, Harry." After a pause, the message continued. "All of you."
"I will."
Harry shut the book, then placed it under the bedclothes.
"All right," he began. "Professor Snape is going to meet us in the common room in a bit. I expect he's the one who can explain things."
"How do you know that?" Fred demanded.
"I--look, let's just go to the common room. Please," Harry stammered.
"Harry's right. We can't really tell you what's going on," Ron spoke up.
"A mystery, then." Fred grinned, then clapped Harry on the shoulders. "Let the way!"
It wasn't long before the door to the Gryffindor tower opened. When the handful students gathered saw the dreaded Potions master, all chattering ceased. Harry marveled at how his guardian could look gentle one minute and terrifying the next. Right now, he looked the latter.
"Potter and the three Weasleys. Just who I had been searching for," Snape sneered. "My office. Immediately."
Harry heaved a sigh, then followed his guardian to the door. He held the door ajar for the others, but Harry suspected it had more to do with ensuring they followed him than amiability. Even Ron looked a bit pale, and he'd been with Harry in Severus's quarters less than an hour ago.
There were certainly benefits to your guardian being the most feared teacher on staff, as well as disadvantages. Often, they were one and the same.
"Do not dawdle, Weasley." Snape looked as though he wanted to pull Fred forward by the arm. "I do not possess the entire afternoon for your leisure."
"Sorry, sir," Fred answered, sounding not contrite, but not sarcastic.
We must have make an odd picture, Harry thought, with some grim amusement.
Snape walked quickly, forcing Harry and Ron nearly to run, but Fred and George kept up without visible difficulty. It wasn’t a terribly long trip, as Severus's quarters were not too far from the Gryffindor tower--as long as the staircases didn't move around much.
Harry wondered how this would play out. With Neville, Severus had gone out of his way to make him feel comfortable (although the presence of his friends certainly did more for his terrified classmate than anything Severus could have done), but, well, Harry imagined that the twins' comfort was not his dad's goal.
Far from it.
Once Severus reached his office, he stopped abruptly. George collided with Fred, making him to fall on the floor, but Severus reacted immediately, yanking him upright.
"Thanks, sir," he said, stepping backwards.
He grunted. "You two--" He gestured at the twins. "Follow me. As for you, wait in my quarters...if you wish?"
Harry glanced at Ron, who gave him a brief nod. He mirrored his best friend.
"Yes, sir."
"Very well. We will be in, shortly."
Harry went first, trying not to look at the twins. The door to Severus's quarters responded immediately to his touch, but he knew to close it behind him.
"Reckon we can hear what he's saying?" Ron asked, a bit eagerly.
Harry shook his head. "Se--Snape wouldn't want us to."
Ron ignored this, placing his head to the wall at various points, but abandoned the project after a few minutes.
"Bet he used a Silencing Charm," he sighed.
"Probably."
They took their usual seats in the sitting room. Ron kept looking at the Chess board, and Harry was about to suggest a game when the door opened.
The twins stood behind him look...well, a bit chastened. Certainly downtrodden. Severus had the map in his hands.
"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, please join us in my office," he requested.
"Yes, sir," they said, jumping to their feet.
Severus stood in front of Harry, blocking the others' view of him. Slowly, he placed a hand on his shoulders. "Harry, are you all right?" he murmured.
Harry nodded, then shrugged. "I...guess?"
"Return tonight and we'll discuss everything further. Or tomorrow, if you would prefer to remain in your dormitory this evening," Severus requested. "I will say, now, that I am quite proud of how you handled everything."
Harry managed a small smile. "Thanks, Dad."
Severus gave his shoulders another squeeze before letting go and, Harry noticed immediately, putting on his fearsome Potions masters mask.
This time, he looked so cold that Harry surpressed a shudder.
"Sit down," Snape commanded, once they were all gathered in his office.
Everyone obeyed immediately.
"As I previously stated, nothing that occurs in this room shall be made public knowledge with dire consequences, and any private discussion, which I cannot prevent without permanently removing your abilities to speak--" He glared at the twins. "--Tempting though that may be, your parents might protest never being able to hear your dulcet tones." No one laughed. "You will, I stress, use the upmost of discretion if you discuss what you learned within these walls, or to say you will not like the consequences would be...an understatement."
Snape spoke all of this staring directly at the twins, who paled further.
"Am. I. Understood?" he finished, speaking no higher than a whisper.
Harry suppressed a shudder.
"Yes, sir," the twins answered immediately.
"As I informed you, I am Harry's guardian throughout the duration of his time at Hogwarts--his aunt and uncle being...inept." Snape's lip curled. "He will return there, briefly, each summer for reasons that do not concern you." Snape glared at Fred and George. "Aside from the staff, you are among the very few people aware of this. As I previously informed you of some of the consequences for not keeping silent, I will not state them again. I will," he added, drawing the map from one of his pockets, "keep this. To attempt to retrieve it, or enlist the help of any of your siblings or my ward, you shall regret it immensely."
Harry's eyebrows raised on their own accord. He truly hadn't expected that...although he probably should have. The twins didn't seem particularly surprised or disappointed by this information. Still. Harry would have liked to examine the map more closely. Perhaps, it would have showed the monster within the castle!
"Unless you have further questions, you're dismissed," Snape concluded, coldly.
At this dismissal, everyone rose, including Harry. His insides twisted. It had been his fault--sort of--that the twins no longer had the map. Then again, if they hadn't been spying, they'd still have it, and everyone would be none the wiser. He also thought--hoped, really--that Fred and George would take Snape's warning seriously.
Everyone seemed to breathe a bit more freely once they were in the corridor, and walking away from Snape's office. Harry chanced a glance at Ron, whose cheeks and regained their color, and then at the twins.
Fred grinned at Harry. "Fancy a chat after we get back to the tower?"
"Sure." He turned to Ron. "That all right with you?"
Ron nodded. "Yeah, sure."
Once in his dormitory, Harry felt rather more at ease than he had an hour or so earlier. With the truth out in the open, he didn't have to lie or hide anything. He suspected the twins would tease him a bit, but it wouldn't be the cruel kind he'd known from Dudley.
They took seats in chairs that weren't exactly as cozy as the ones in the common room, but far better than the ones in Snape's office.
"All right. Get the teasing out, first," Harry requested, not managing to hide a smile.
Fred grinned. "First, the heir of Slytherin, next, the ward of the Bat of the Dungeons. What will we find out next, George?"
"Dunno, but we'll spend the rest of the holidays trying to figure it out," George replied.
"Sure you will," Harry answered, with an eye roll. "And I'm not the heir of Slytherin. Not to my knowledge, anyway."
"Yeah, I reckon you're mostly safe," Fred agreed. "Your dad, on the other hand--"
"Do you call him that? Or is he still 'sir' and the like?" George interrupted, eagerly.
"I mostly call him 'Dad' when it's just us...or when Ron and Hermione are there." Harry had gotten over that awkwardness over a month ago. "But in lessons and in the corridors and the like, he's still 'sir' or 'Professor.'"
And he was still "Potter." If he'd been in Slytherin, he might be Mr. Potter or Harry--as he'd heard his guardian call Malfoy both--but, well, that couldn't be helped, now.
"Reckon would be really hard to keep people from guessing his guardianship over you if you suddenly started calling Snape 'Dad' in lessons," Fred pointed out.
Everyone laughed a bit at that.
"Is he decent to you?" George glanced at Fred, then at Harry. "Not just compared to the Dursleys, I mean."
"He's great." Harry couldn't hold back a smile. "Really real."
"And you have a room in his quarters?" Fred pressed.
"Yeah..."
He should have known that the personal questions about his guardian would follow.
"Do his slippers have snakes on them?"
"Do they hiss?"
"No, and no."
Ron chortled. "Maybe a good Christmas present, eh?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "I'd like to live to see the end of my second year, thanks."
"You could give them to him after you graduate," George offered, helpfully.
"Maybe." Harry couldn't hide a smile at the mental image.
"Does he use...shampoo?" Fred asked, in a low voice.
Harry shrugged. "I have it in my bathroom, so he knows what it is."
"You have your own bathroom?" Fred echoed. "Not even Percy has that! He shares with the other Prefects and Quidditch Captains."
"Well...I'm not over THAT often..."
"Are his night clothes black, too?" Fred asked, after a slight silence, "or does he have an assortment of colors?"
Harry shook his head. "Do you think I've been through his closet and sorted through his night clothes?"
Honestly, he didn't think Severus would much care if Harry did. Probably, he'd be amused...
"I guess I can understand that," Fred allowed. "All right. What's his favorite food?"
"I'm...not sure, really," Harry admitted, rather surprised. "We had porridge a lot for breakfast, and sometimes eggs and sausages." He shrugged. "Never asked him about his favorite, though."
"He cooks, then, during summer holidays? Doesn't have a House-Elf from school send over stuff?" George asked.
"Yeah, he cooks." He frowned. "Wait, House-Elves can do that? Really?"
The twins shrugged.
"We're not really sure," Fred admitted. "It's more of a rumor than anything else. But there are over a hundred at Hogwarts, and during the summer, it's not as though there are students here, and they love to stay busy."
"Wish they'd lend them out to students. Mum's always saying she would love help with the laundry," Ron put in.
"Yeah, but she doesn't need help with cooking!" Free laughed. "Now, we must know. What did his house look like? Was it a set of dungeons, like here?"
"Yes, seven last time I counted," Harry answered, dryly, "and there were several live bats that guard each."
"Really?"
Harry rolled his eyes, laughing. "No. It looked like an ordinary house. The only thing that made it much different from a Muggle one, aside from not having telly and stuff, was the laboratory."
"Where he keeps the limbs of students who crossed him," George said, nudging Harry.
"Oh, no, it's worse. There, he keeps the names of those whose limbs he plans to remove," Harry retorted, not blinking. "Sorry, but yours are at the top."
"Would consider it an insult to be anywhere else, eh, Fred?" George asked, shoving his twin.
"I'd be outright offended!"
"Reckon you were there until you became his batling," George went on, seriously.
Harry snorted. "Is batling a real word?"
"Little bat. Batling. We'll find a stuffed one for you, if you like," Fred offered.
"For Christmas," George added.
Harry, while fairly certain they were just teasing, felt his stomach twist slightly. Last year, he'd received gifts from Ron and Hermione, not to mention Mrs. Weasley and Hagrid. He had been so certain he wouldn't get gifts that he hadn't bothered to purchase anything. This year, he'd been prepared, although deciding what to get Severus and Hagrid proved equally difficult--he'd finally settled on a "frightfully real!" copy of "The Monster Book of Monsters" for Hagrid, and two gifts for Severus--an assortment of chocolates from Honeydukes, and a box of samples of unusual herbs from the Apothecary. Would he have to scramble to find something for the twins? It was more selecting something that made the task difficult...
"I suppose," Harry hedged, "I'm the little bat of the Dungeons?"
"Sure, if you want to make it unnecessarily long." George grinned. "How about batling?"
"As long as you don't call me that in front of Severus," Harry cautioned.
"All right, but I reckon he already knows about his nickname, as we're far from the first to call him that," Fred mused.
"Fred? George? I'm sorry about the map," Harry said, suddenly.
They shrugged.
"Not your fault," Fred reassured him. "It's not like you could have grabbed it from him, any more than us."
"Besides, it's mostly useful for finding passages to get to Hogsmeade from the castle," George added, "and we know them all by now."
"Why'd you need those? You're old enough to go on your own, and Dad signed your slip last year," Ron protested.
"Ah, but we didn't want to wait until third year, did we, Ron?" Fred retorted, lightly. "And, besides, there's only a couple of scheduled trips each term. Not enough in case you run out of sweets or joke supplies."
"You'll see next year," George said, sagely. "You will be out of sweets and prank supplies before the new year."
"Especially with the pocket money we get," Ron sighed.
"Can't help you there, as we don't get much more," Fred said, sympathetically. "Someday, we'll be able to go into Honeydukes and every other shop and buy them out."
Harry remained silent. He hadn't told the Weasleys about his fortune from his parents--and Severus had recently told him that his vault was only a portion of his inheritance, meant merely to last him throughout school. Which made him feel even worse for the Weasleys, and only slightly less bad for Snape, who had taken it on him to buy Harry everything he would need for the next six years.
He returned to Severus's quarters that night, leaving the Gryffindor tower a half hour before curfew. As he'd seen his guardian earlier, he'd intended to stay in his dormitory. Still, after everything which had happened with Fred and George, waiting until the next day to see his dad felt far too long.
"You can join me, if you want," Harry suggested. "We both fit under the cloak."
Ron shook his head, grinning. "No, you go on ahead."
Harry didn't really need his invisibility cloak to be outside the Gryffindor tower, as it was still before curfew. Still, anyone seeing him approach Snape's quarters would raise their eyebrows--at a minimum--and this was the last thing they needed.
He did a double take when he'd barely approached the door before it opened.
"Come in, child," Severus greeted, softly.
He looked...amused. Or what looked like amused, anyway. His eyebrows crinkled and his lips turned upwards.
"Hi." Harry suddenly felt a bit shy. "Er, I can go back."
"Don't be ridiculous," Severus chided him. He reached out, as though to put an arm around him, then stopped. He rolled his eyes. "Now, child, I don't wish to look like a fool in front of my ward, so kindly remove the cloak."
"Just once," Harry said, as he discarded his father's cloak, "I would like to see you make an attempt at it."
Severus drew him into his arms. "Hmm, well, I might entertain the notion at some point. Mind you, it could be decades into the future."
Harry laughed, warmed by the joke almost as much as the hug. It felt particularly nice. He hugged his guardian, perhaps a bit fiercely, who responded by tightening his hold with one arm, and removing the other to card Harry's hair.
"Let's sit down for a bit," Severus suggested.
Harry nodded, releasing his guardian with some reluctance. Silly, perhaps. Severus wasn't going to disappear.
He kept an arm securely around Harry's frame as they crossed the room towards the couch. Harry let the invisibility cloak fall beside him. Severus rolled his eyes, then sent the cloak so it was hanging up on one of the door hooks.
"Thanks."
Harry had more than a slight feeling that Severus disliked the cloak. Not just because it rendered Harry invisible and unlikely to get caught out of bounds (although Severus insisted that he always use it when he visited), but because it had been Harry's father's before him. As likely as not, he'd used it for mischief at school. Maybe even to hurt Severus. Harry didn't particularly want an account of all of his father's misdeeds, and he knew that was why Snape had hated him the previous year. Still. Sometimes, it was almost palpable, like James Potter was a ghost and haunting the both of them.
Now wasn't the time to think about it. Harry concentrated on Severus's soft voice saying, "You're welcome," the arm now drawing Harry close to him. He closed his eyes, thinking that if he only had a blanket, he might fall asleep.
"Would you like some hot chocolate and biscuits?"
Harry's stomach answered before he could. Chuckling, Severus made the slightest motion with his wand, and the entire tray came shooting towards them. Even when it landed on the table, not a drop had spilled.
"You're so good at that," he mused, taking a mug and a cinnamon flavored biscuit. "It’s a bitscary."
"That’s scary, of all things?" Severus teased, taking a mug from the tray, and two biscuits.
"Well." Harry put the mug to his mouth and drank slowly, savoring the taste of chocolate as much as the perfectly warm temperature. "When I see adults doing magic...I think there's no way I could ever be that good."
"I recall thinking similar things as a student," Severus said, "and I imagine many of my house did, as well." He snorted. "Not that we'd admit as much to each other."
"Hermione wouldn't. The most she'd say is she'd have to do a lot more studying." Harry smiled. "She'd still be the first to get it right."
"You underestimate yourself, child. Your marks were never poor, but they were very good last term."
"Maybe."
"Entirely," Severus corrected. He laid down his mug and drew Harry close, mindful not to disturb his mug of hot chocolate.
Harry managed a laugh. It was still odd, having someone care how he did. Well, besides Hermione, but she viewed a nine out of ten points as just above a failing mark.
"How did the Weasley twins act after I dismissed them?" Severus asked, suddenly, after Harry had set down his mug.
"They asked me a bunch of questions about your personal life," Harry admitted.
Fortunately, Severus just chuckled. "Do tell."
They had a good time laughing over the questions and answers Harry relayed. Severus looked a bit sour over the shampoo one, though.
"Should I have just said yes?"
"I...don't know."
He didn't say anything else, and Harry knew it would be unwise to push. It was a surprise, then, when Severus inhaled sharply and spoke suddenly.
"I grew up poor," he began. "Not in the way the Weasleys see themselves. Patched robes are one thing. Not having enough food because your father is a drunk who's so proud he refused to let my mother work outside the house...another entirely."
"I'm sorry."
His dad looked as though he wanted to object. Instead, he cleared his throat. "Yes, well. As you can imagine, Harry, Shampoo was a luxury we could rarely afford. Even hot water became sporadic at times." Harry squeezed Severus's hand, who merely held him closer. Protectively, perhaps. "My mother and I had difficult hair. She could tie hers in a bun, something I was unable to do."
Harry chewed on the inside of his mouth. "What about...cutting it really short?"
Severus shook his head. "It was essential for me to keep my neck covered." He took a deep breath. "I'll...I'll show you why, if you wish."
A part of Harry wanted to see, but he didn't want his dad to feel like he had to.
"You don't have to, Dad."
"So I am aware," Severus answered, sardonically. "I will not force you to view anything you don't wish to, child."
Harry nodded. "I--well, I don't want to, but yeah, I..."
He trailed off.
"I understand." Severus moved away from Harry, then lifted his hair with a single motion. "Go ahead. Have a proper look, child."
Slowly, Harry moved behind his back. Then, he nearly gasped.
Dark marks--scars and what looked like burn marks--traveled from the base of his hairline until his robes. Harry wondered if they continued past the fabric. There were so many...surely, at least fifty. Ranging in size from a light line no longer than his fingernail to (more frequent) deeper, jagged lines which encompassed the entire area.
Harry stared until his vision became blurry. "Your father? He did that to you?"
Severus drew Harry back into his arms. "It only stopped after I was able to make him, after my first year at school. Yes," he said, quickly, "the rule against underage magic was in effect back then. But my mother was a witch, and the Ministry cannot differentiate between users of magic. Unfortunately, I couldn't use what I had fully learned--in lessons and outside. The coward balked at a few sparks. Didn't even touch him, the fool." Severus chuckled. "Quite the letdown. I was not--I did not wish to become the sadist he was. I would not perform magic if he left me alone, and he did, because while he was a sadistic bully, Tobias Snape was quite the coward."
"I'm glad you could stop him. It was brave of you, Dad. To defend yourself."
Severus chuckled. "Perhaps." He cleared his throat. "Well. That ought to answer the shampoo question."
"Er...But...you have it now, right?"
"Of course." Then, he chuckled and began to card Harry's hair. "As I said, owlet, I have difficult hair and...I am a Potions Master. Hours of brewing complicated ingredients are not conducive to one's appearance. Yes, that is why I look so pale. Sallow," he explained.
Harry grimaced in spite the ministration. "That’s awful."
"Well." Severus cleared his throat. "I enjoy brewing enough that it outweighs some of the fouler aspects of the job."
"Dad? Will all that brewing make you...ill?"
"My experience with seeing other, older potioneers suggests not. Sallow skin, oily hair, the risk of a bent back..." He chuckled. "I am careful to counteract that last bit when not brewing."
"I noticed. You're still terrifying in lessons," Harry said, with a bit of a laugh.
"Thank you," Severus returned, dryly. "I always valued intelligence over looks, and look at Gilderoy Lockhart for an extreme example on the other end."
Harry snorted. "I dunno, Dad. Maybe he could find some extra strong shampoo for your hair."
Severus hugged him tightly. "Merlin forbid I go to that peacock for a favor."
"Good point," Harry agreed.
"Should you wonder, I do not intend to make use of my new map. No, I have no need another duty to perform."
"Are you going to tell D--Professor Dumbledore?"
"I haven't decided." Severus shrugged. "I expect that, for a dreary adult such as myself, the effort of studying the map would be far more trouble than any minuscule benefits it might provide."
"Fred and George say it provides secret passages to Hogsmeade."
"Which is unnecessary, as I can visit whenever I wish," he laughed. "Now, I had rather expected you would be by tonight, so I opted to use it before your arrival."
"Am I really that predictable, Dad?" he asked, yawning.
"I'm afraid so. Just as I knew you'd be nodding off any minute, as it's about time you normally go to sleep." He rose, then extended a hand to Harry. "Do you wish to reside in your room or mine tonight?"
"Mine...but with you?" Harry asked.
Severus nodded. "Perform your nightly routines, while I do likewise, and join you shortly."
"Okay. See you soon!"
Several moments later, Harry struggled to get warm. The bed contained the usual three blankets, but Severus must not heat the bed unless he was over, or he'd forgotten. And his quarters weren't exactly warm without a fireplace.
At least he wasn't on his old cot in the cupboard. Harry had passed many hours struggling to get warm.
Before he could ruminate about that for too long, Severus was beside him. Before Harry could relax against him, his dad was muttering something under his breath.
"Forgot to warm the bed clothes. Harry, you must be freezing!"
Harry rolled over. "Just a bit cold."
Severus retrieved his wand from a pocket of his night shirt, pointed it at the bed, and a flood of warmth flowed through the bed clothes.
"Mmm."
Severus lifted the blankets long enough to crawl under them, then wrapped Harry in a tight hug. "Better?"
"Even better."
"Too tired for a bedtime story?"
Harry opened his eyes with effort. "Tomorrow night, maybe?"
Severus gently positioned Harry's head so it was just below his shoulders. "Tomorrow," he promised.