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"I will help you, Harry, if that's what you really want." Severus offered, wrapping a hand around his son's shoulders and pulling the teen near.
"You're my family, Dad. You and now Nev and here's where I belong." Severus closed his eyes and nodded, fighting away his tears as he pulled his son closer and enveloped him in a proper hug.
"I know, son. I know."
The next morning had dawned just as chilly as the night before and all evidence pointed a downpour was imminent. Harry wished with all his might that the weather wasn't a warning of things to come. He had received a letter from Nagnok over breakfast with which the goblin informed him that he would be arriving this very evening to broach the subject of the Emancipation ritual to the Potters. That meant Harry would have to return to Potter Manor for the evening -and probably stay there till the ritual itself.
"Are you sure you don't want me to tag along?" Severus finally asked after trying to suppress his protective instincts for the past hour since Harry had received Nagnok's letter. Harry shook his head negatively.
"It's not a matter of my not wanting you there, Dad. You know that if I had a say in this you'd be right there through it all." The potions master nodded, already knowing what Harry would say next. "But Prongs is much less likely to cooperate if you're there. It's going to be a close call as it is."
"I know, Harry." Severus stated, swirling the tea in his cup, contemplating. "I just can't help wanting to be there for you. It's almost unnatural letting you do this alone, even if I know you can handle it." Looking at the amused sparkle in his son's eyes at his semi-frantic declaration, he hastened to exclaim; "I know it doesn't make sense, okay?"
"You're just worried. Let's call it a father's prerogative?" Severus sighed but couldn't help a soft smile from forming on his lips. It was his prerogative to worry over his son after all. He would just love to see someone try and contest that! They would never find the unlucky sod's pieces no matter how hard they tried.
"Just promise you'll write the moment Nagnok leaves." Severus persisted. "Even if it's something short, like 'It all went well' or 'Come get me out of here', alright?"
"Alright, alright; I promise." Harry conceded, smiling at his father's antics.
"I have the distinct impression that you're mocking me," Severus stated, huffing in mock superiority "but I'll let it slide in light of current events, young man!" Harry was still laughing when Minnie appeared, holding a letter in her hands; apparently, Neville had guessed he would be at Silbreith and had written to him.
"Nagnok forgot something?" Severus asked, looking at Harry over his Daily Prophet; the attack at the World Cup was still all that appeared on the papers -well if one excepted the Quibbler, that is; they were publishing a new theory on the origins of Narggles- and, even if the investigation wasn't over yet, there had been some rumors about him and Harry fighting against the Death Eaters. Apparently, some Hogwarts students had even noticed Neville and had recognized him, so the boy was mentioned too, in passing, as said rumors had been turned into articles.
"No, it's from Nev, actually." Well, speak of the devil! Severus thought as he put down the newspaper completely; Augusta Longbottom would have definitely read those articles herself. Maybe that was why Neville had decided to write? He hoped she hadn't caused Neville any trouble; the boy was practically family to Harry and, he had to admit, had managed to slither his way into the small group of people the potions master considered family too. That group of people previously having been only Harry, Alfie and Minnie -those two house elves had almost adopted him and his son, he had resigned himself to that fact ages ago- meant that finding himself with a boy that had started to classify as an honorary nephew was quite the shock.
"So, what does he write?" Severus asked. "I hope his grandmother isn't causing him any trouble."
"Quite the contrary." Harry stated, a small smirk appearing on his face.
"How so?"
"Apparently she was so happy Neville started, and I quote, "following the steps of his father" that she doubled his monthly allowance." Then the teen chuckled once, loudly, grin eyes twinkling mischievously.
"What?" Severus inquired, smiling a bit himself by proxy, even though he had no idea what Harry had just read.
"Apparently I'm not the only Gryffindor acting all Slytherin-like lately!" Harry exclaimed in the place of an explanation.
"Good to see I'm influencing the new generation." The potions master stated, causing Harry to roll his eyes at his father's antics.
"But of course you are."
"And how did my influence caused yet another Gryffindor to join the Dark Side?" Severus asked, assumed haughtiness colouring his voice.
"You're so full of it." Harry mumbled, his spirits improving at his father's theatricalities. "Anyway, as I was saying, Nev decided to broach the subject of his wand to her." The green eyed teen explained as Severus listened in interest.
"What did he say exactly?"
"He may or may not have mentioned that you expressed your opinion on how his father's wand might not allow him to reach his full potential." Severus chuckled once.
"That's not even a lie, you know." The potions master admitted after a few seconds of deliberation. "I did say that, just a year and a half ago."
"Exactly." Harry agreed smirking. "Nev said he explained to her that, though his father was an Auror and thus he didn't question his wand was of the best quality, his mother was an Auror too; he reminded her how he, being a combination of the two, should probably have a wand that represents that."
"Neville has been spending too much time with you." Severus interjected, amusement clear in his voice.
"Finally, he told her that, should he cross paths with the Death Eaters again, he would need a wand that would allow respond too him perfectly." Harry chuckled as he read the last paragraph of the letter. "Apparently, his grandmother was so proud he intends to keep fighting against the Death Eaters that she not only agreed to give him money for a new wand, but allowed him to buy it alone, the day we'll meet for out school supplies in Diagon Alley. Because, as he put it, if he's old enough to fight against the Death Eaters, he's old enough to buy a wand on his own." Harry was full out chuckling at that point. "Maybe he is spending too much time with me." He conceded.
"Oh well, good for Neville; remind me to award him five points for something inconsequential once the term begins." Harry nodded, still smiling. If Neville had managed to persuade his grandmother that easily, maybe there was hope for him too.
Three hours later, Harry bid Severus goodbye and flooed over to Potter mansion. He had asked his parents to be there, only informing them via letter it would be for something of great importance. Even if he had asked them to be waiting for him, he couldn't help but feel mildly surprised when he stepped out of the fireplace and found both his parents expecting his arrival. 'There's a first time for everything, I suppose,' Harry thought as his mother rose from the couch to greet him.
HI GUYS IF YOU WANT READ 300 + CHAPTERS THEN VISIT
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