"No, Mr. Snape, no, please," Trelawney's thin hand flew up in a protective gesture, bracelets clinking. "I'll give you an oath."
"Good. Perhaps you're right, Miss Trelawney," Snape nodded to her briefly and turned to Harry. "Accept, I'll seal it. By the way, your glasses..." he turned back and handed her the loss.
The Seer's thin eyebrows flew up, but she only thanked and immediately began saying words necessary for the oath. Snape prompted, clarifying.
Returning to Hogwarts didn't seem simple to any of them—after all, curfew hadn't happened yet. But couldn't wait for it either—Harry might be missed.
"We made it great," he was about to rejoice, but immediately fell silent, catching Snape's surprised look.
"Good that we made it, but not sure it's so great, especially since in minimum ten minutes you must be in the tower. And this is..." Snape surveyed all present, "quite strange company for joint return."
"Maybe Mr. Potter will go first?" Trelawney suggested, who still quite puzzledly glanced at her own hand holding a strong leather leash, on the other end of which...
Oh... She'd never been a dog owner. And if you know what kind of "dog" this is... But to leave a person, whoever and whatever he might be, to dementors, and after all that's been experienced... Good that Snape had calming potion left, without it she'd hardly dare such a thing.
But what happened? Why is Potter hesitating?
"Uh, professor, my bag remained in your office..."
"Miss Trelawney, please," Snape opened the door before his colleague.
"First—lady with dog," Harry giggled and shushed the bulldog who definitely would have preferred to stay with him.
***
The school was already quite empty: children of course still ran by, but all hurried to be in their common rooms before curfew. She hadn't managed to pass through the hall and climb one floor when she met the caretaker.
Filch froze seeing the Divination professor leading on a leash a thin and considerably battered English bulldog. And when it seemed to him the dog winked...
The unfortunate caretaker gaped and stepped on the wrong staircase, riding on it far upward, from where soon came only his exclamations, but making out their meaning was impossible. Mrs. Norris sensibly dissolved into the half-dark of the nearest corridor even before her master managed to react.
Miss Trelawney, calling herself through teeth a painted crow, slapped her forehead and threw Disillusionment on the dog that sat from surprise. Weak of course, but should suffice to her rooms. Approximately so it worked out: she began seeing the dog again near her own classroom.
Sybill crossed her arms and pondered, looking at the rope ladder. Yeah. Black can't transform back, he's under Polyjuice. And why like this? Though... she imagined Filch's reaction if her companion had been that very wolfhound. He'd yell much louder, or even immediately run to the headmaster to complain. And could also stand past the stairs. Well, could have thrown the same Disillusionment in advance, couldn't she?
And she for the umpteenth time (true, already mentally) cursed herself for not asking Snape about the duration of potion's action. However, he'll most likely bring another portion himself, if won't simply take the dog.
The bulldog, must give him his due, obeyed like silk, sat quietly, but looked reproachfully. Either at the ladder or at her. Well, she actually understood him. If only Snape had dragged him to the dungeons! Though... she remembered they didn't particularly get along at school, to put it mildly. And the buttoned-up black Head of Slytherin in company with a white battered bulldog—that would be something. All right, better her.
Of course she had a personal passage, and she herself never used the student one, like she'd climb ropes, but to reveal her secret to someone else... However, comparing the dog's appearance and her more than modest possibilities for lifting weights, only sighed heavily.
The mutt sighed in unison with her, obviously hinting that English bulldogs' talents in rope ladder climbing are quite limited. Levitate after all that happened she simply had no strength.
"Alright," she addressed the dog, wagging her finger at him. "But about this path—to no one!"
And smiled: an understandingly nodding and wagging rear English bulldog presented quite an amusing spectacle.
***
Barely had the door closed behind Trelawney when Snape looked at Harry.
"Now you—run to common room. Then return under cloak. Faster, Harry, but try to make a detour, you're returning from detention after all."
Potter nodded understandingly, threw on cloak and disappeared, so they entered together and unanimously headed toward the dungeons. Only when they passed all relatively crowded places did Snape pull the cloak off Harry and shoved it in his hands. And then watched as the boy scratched at full speed toward Gryffindor Tower.
He himself faced a fun evening, night duty and negotiations with Malfoy which he didn't even imagine how to begin. However, could hope Miss Trelawney's patience would last at least a couple days, and in this time he'd manage to persuade the aristocrat. But... Mordred! He almost slapped his forehead. The dog still needs walking... Snape quietly groaned and climbed into the bar for remains of Malfoy's gift of seven-year aging, got it out, weighed in hand and put it back. Head must be absolutely clear. And Harry should come soon.
***
When gloomy, worried and tired Harry Potter appeared in Gryffindor common room, not only Hermione rushed to him but strangely enough Ron and both his brothers with sister.
"Detention with Snape... how?"
"Hermione told us..."
"How are you, alive at all?"
"Harry, is everything okay?"
He shrugged and sighed so that Hermione rounded her eyes.
"Everything's so bad?"
"Well..." Harry looked attentively at his friend and smiled crookedly at the rest. "Sort of nothing. Just tired. And Snape generally went somewhere, for long."
"And you didn't peek anywhere?"
Eh, twins, twins...
"Am I crazy or what," he was surprised. "Life hasn't bored me yet, actually."
"Ah... you didn't happen to notice what he protects his cabinets with?"
"We would..."
"In your place I'd prefer more pleasant ways to part with this world. Avada Kedavra for example—quick and painless."
Silence reigned in the common room.
"That's what just one day with Snape leads to," Hermione noted philosophically, expressively looking at Harry.
Twins nodded sympathetically, strangely enough silently.
"You... How do you know Unforgivables?" Ron breathed.
"Um... read it."
"And in what book?"
"We want too!" the twins immediately livened up.
Harry sighed heavily. Seems now will have to blame everything on the professor, nothing else remains. After all, if he says something about general library, will definitely make him show.
"Are you complete idiots or what?" Hermione snorted, showering all three gingers with contempt; Ginny sensibly kept behind brothers and only listened. "In newspapers of that time almost every page had all three of these spells!"
"Harry, you... read newspapers?"
"Well... yes, of course. Long ago already."
"Why didn't I know?"
"Did you go with us every time we gathered to library?" Hermione parried, and Ron bit his tongue.
Harry thought a bit, winked inconspicuously at Hermione and...
"I'm an idiot!" he yelled, grabbing his head.
"Did Snape convince you after all?" his friend inquired.
"Seems he was right," Harry moaned quite convincingly. "I'm a cretin, I left my school bag there."
"Harry, you really are a cretin, why would you need school bag at detention?"
"What if he'd made me write something or solve?"
"How often did he do so in two years?"
"Well... but I did homework for almost whole next week," Harry lied blue-eyed.
"Well you... are something..." Ron squeezed out.
"Oh, my grief... Morning we'll go, pick it up," Hermione tried to calm him but looked at him suspiciously. "Alright, I'm going to sleep. Advise you the same, after all first lesson we have Transfiguration! Let's go, Ginny!"
And the girls retreated to themselves, leaving displeased guys in the common room.
"Bossy," Ron grumbled but fortunately added nothing more. Apparently the Hogsmeade walk and also most likely extra portion of butterbeer tired him too. "Coming, Harry?"
"Ah... yes, in a moment. You go..." Harry himself didn't know why he slowed down, looking at the door. Apparently managed to convince himself how awful it would be to trudge to dungeons for bag in morning.
"Do you know," he addressed the twins, "does Snape have duty today?"
"Still thinking how to save your things?"
Harry made a sad face and nodded.
"Listen, brother Forge..."
"All attention, brother Gred..."
"Our Harry..."
"Must be supported."
"With something that would be useful to him!"
"Will you give us oath you'll never tell anyone about what we'll give you now?"
"Of course," this was definitely interesting. "I swear I'll never tell anyone about what you'll give me now!"
"Well then. And write and even show is possible," thought the would-be Slytherin to himself while Fred (seems still Fred) pulled from his bosom a folded parchment.
In the next five minutes Harry learned how the twins got the "Marauder's Map"—this name was beautifully inscribed on the upper edge of a real map of Hogwarts over which moved various labeled dots, how to enlarge it in the right place and reduce and some other very-very interesting things.
"We thought here..."
"And I decided this'll definitely be useful to you."
"You... want to give it to me? Completely? And how will you yourselves?"
"Well, you'll give us if we ask..."
"Of course! What if I end up somewhere far when you need it?"
"What are you saying! Where else besides Hogwarts could this map be useful? And we live in one house, where will you go from us?"
"What if for example I have to go for holidays to Dursleys and you—stay?"
"Why would you need map there with Muggles? Leave us."
"What if I forget?"
"Send by owl. Harry, you're strange somehow lately..."
"Detentions with Snape, and a whole day, my brother..."
"Lead to no good, exactly!"
"Well alright. Go rescue your bag!"
"We'd go with you, only..."
"Noise will be too much."
After twins' departure no one remained in common room besides him, so Harry threw on invisibility cloak and unfolded map. In corridors moved only two dots—Filch and Professor Snape.
"He really has duty today. Outrageous," Harry thought, waited until dot labeled Filch moved to safe distance, then looked at his own bedroom. He himself didn't know what he expected to see there, but when in bed next to his cot he saw two labels: "Ron Weasley" and "Peter Pettigrew," was quite puzzled.
First, Ron let the rat out of cage. Second, did this at night. Why? And also interesting, did twins see this picture—after all, definitely this could have been hundreds of times already... Must show the professor!
Harry closed map and dashed to third floor where, if believed what was seen, Snape now was.
***
As soon as Professor of Potions took map in hands, it began calling names. Therefore Harry opened it himself. And showed what he wanted. Professor, seeing traitor's name, even ground teeth.
"Go to my office, Harry, you know password. I'll finish rounds."
And dashed through corridors as if devils chased him.
Harry didn't envy whoever, God forbid, crosses professor's path, but seems school was quiet.
He ran down to Slytherin dungeons, noticing someone's silhouette flashed in passage to house common room, hid, tiptoed past, whispered password...
He'd been in office already, so didn't long look around but threw off cloak, passed into small niche near "window" and pondered. Either brew tea... or coffee? After all today's twists wanted simply to sit like in summer in Snape's kitchen. Means tea. This one with lemon balm, it seems calms but doesn't put to sleep. And host likes it, otherwise this herb wouldn't be here. Just right.
***
When Snape returned to himself, pleasant smell tickled nostrils from threshold, and he also remembered something. Summer and pleasant. Inside as if released compressed spring. And what shocked him so? After all knew, knew everything about rat, but still...
One thing to know from words, another—see yourself. So close. How wanted simply to grind creature to powder! Good he wasn't first time holding desires in check. And yes, grinding own teeth to powder not worth it either. But Harry... Where does the boy have such incredible intuition?
First they simply drank tea: respite required for both. Simply sit calmly, sipping fragrant drink. Breathe. Just minute or two. And only then...
"Five points to Gryffindor for excellent tea," Snape whispered and smiled at beaming Harry.
Who would have thought, Harry Potter can be not only eternal headache but also excellent calming agent. Sometimes.
"Professor, here's what I thought," on boy's face appeared something indescribable. Snape tensed. "Aunt Marge... She definitely won't let doggy out of hands. I mean, he definitely won't break away from her."
Snape almost choked on tea. Communication between mutt and Miss Dursley in summer was... memorable. Harry thought up serious punishment for his godfather.
"And Polyjuice?"
"I can tell auntie it's necessary medicine."
"You think she'll so easily agree to give dog substance unknown to her?"
"What if you help?"
Snape shrugged.
"Won't use Unforgivables."
"What did you say about acquaintance?"
Snape sighed. Persuade Malfoy he can, but explain everything to him—put under threat both Sirius and himself and Harry. Though... Wonder what relations Narcissa had with cousin? Or try to play in the dark?
They discussed different options, then thought up several ways to catch Pettigrew, where main difficulty was doing this in front of everyone but so no one pays attention to them, and now Harry began nodding off. Unsurprising: whole day in tense expectation, and then—nothing to say. Shocks today were enough even for him, adult and quite hardened by troubles person. But the boy perked up and stared at Snape as if deciding to tell him something else or not.
"Well?"
"And also," Harry blushed and confessed: "I had to lie here... in common room. A lot."
"That is everyone heard. To whom was it addressed and what did lying consist of?"
"That I read about Unforgivables in newspapers, true, not me, Hermione thought up," Harry slightly hurried, and Snape nodded approvingly, "and also that I did homework for whole next week... Can I work here till morning?"
"So that's why you dragged here full bag."
Snape perfectly understood now Harry's some student. Give him some stimulants? No... These aren't best substances for teenager, especially in such state. And special children's compounds he somehow hasn't gotten yet, and this will need correcting. He opened cabinet farthest from window and bent to lower shelf.
When professor commanded "Accio Slytherin works from last week November and first week December last year!" then nearly buried him under pile of scrolls, Harry slightly swelled. Lost his eloquence temporarily for sure.
"This is for me? Really? That is... I can?.. Copy?" with last syllable Harry's jaw involuntarily dropped and word came out slurred.
"Can choose couple works and write your own from them. But don't count on similar becoming practice," Snape frowned. "And you'll work everything off to me because this month you'll be punished and must appear to me from tomorrow at half past five daily."
"Cool!" Harry jumped, immediately waking. "That is I'll say you caught me when I went for bag and can..." he trailed off, spreading into smile.
Can openly go to professor every day. Yes! Especially since they have so many questions, so many things. How successfully everything worked out!
"Consider I'm doing this exclusively for reason that for normal learning you need full sleep."
"Only when extremely necessary, like today," Harry nodded, smiling, but quickly grew serious. "Truthfully, better such thing not happen again."
"Rewrite in own words, I'll check," Snape rose from desk, levitating his cup to false window sill.
"I already... You what... Have nothing to do or what?" Harry even was confused. Why check him?
"Oh, recognize rude Potter. More often like this."
"But," Harry's eyebrows rose in house shape, "after all your time... I feel sorry for it!"
"Work. At your disposal," Snape glanced at scrolls, assessing volume, "hour and a half."
"Thank you, professor," Harry wanted to add apologies just in case but Snape already evaporated.
"Ah, right, he still has to go around school. Probably why he's angry. He seems generally iron," Harry thought and yawned widely, grabbing nearest scroll. What's here? Wow... Potions! Exactly what professor assigned! And in that scroll? Charms... He sorted through pile of homework, checking topics and dates—wow, almost all subjects here! Except History. Imagining reaction of his friends and anyone else if anyone learned what Snape gave him, Harry giggled. Then grabbed quill.
***
When Snape returned, his charge snored among scrolls, forehead buried in Transfiguration reference. Still took books too... good boy.
Snape carefully lifted soundly sleeping Harry in arms and stepped to couch. The boy suddenly hugged, buried in his neck and mumbled:
"Mama..."
Snape almost dropped him. Legs gave way, and professor with his burden on reflexes alone and remains of willpower made impossible pirouette, landing back on couch. Harry pressed him from side and slightly above, hugging and snoring somewhere in armpit, and professor forgot how to breathe.
Mama... If it were "father", this he maybe could survive... Mama... Longing for closest person, most beloved... Merlin, what for?! Heart pounded like crazy. Finally he inhaled raggedly and breathed frequently, waking boy.
"Oh... Sorry, professor," he was embarrassed, removing hand from his chest. "Did I fall asleep? Must..."
Heavy sigh testified he thought: time to leave.
Must send him to sleep. To tower. And better escort. But Snape did what didn't expect from himself: brought pillow, blanket and gave this into hands of sleepy and puzzled Potter.
Green eyes looked surprised.
"Something happened, professor?"
Harry felt his confusion, well of course... Snape rushed out of common room.
When he returned, Harry already sat rubbing face—tried to wake up.
"Here, drink," small flask lay in boy's hand. "You'll quickly fall asleep and sleep in couple-three hours. And I must again walk through school."
Harry nodded and drank, praise Merlin, not asking extra questions.
Hand itself reached to carefully pass over forehead and slightly tousle already standing on end black hair. Boy already falling asleep smiled so brightly and happily that something tugged inside.
"No, this is impossible. Must go to Filius because this... this..."
What "this" means, Snape couldn't formulate. But for rounds took his student's cloak and in place free from all portraits and generally paintings threw it on and headed to Ravenclaw Tower.
***
Flitwick in old shirt, warm robe and nightcap didn't look satisfied of course. And that Snape was agitated but rushed nowhere except to him didn't escape part-goblin.
"What so urgent happened to you?" he asked not without some grumpiness, dreaming to shoo "dear student" but already understanding won't succeed...
"I'm Harry Potter's 'mama.'"
"What?" Flitwick squeaked and stepped back, releasing door. "What did you say?"
"This wasn't me," Snape sighed. "This was Harry."
"Tell," part-goblin stretched, simultaneously busying himself preparing tea. Seems conversation ahead wasn't simplest and definitely not short.
And Severus told.
He didn't notice how teacup appeared in his hand, inhaled light lemon aroma, sipped and only then understood how throat dried. No, he mustn't allow himself such emotions. So many emotions.
"Mustn't but can," Teacher picked up his thoughts. "Actually there are both pluses and minuses here."
Flitwick unhurriedly sipped tea. Severus waited.
"You got another outlet besides me which actually is very good. This is like fulcrum, wouldn't hurt to have another but this already is step forward. But on other hand you got Achilles heel. You became vulnerable—through Harry. After all should something happen to him... you'll even go at former Master with bare hands. Simply because can't otherwise."
Severus almost objected but Flitwick patted his shoulder:
"I'm speaking figuratively, you understand. After all will go?"
He sighed and nodded in agreement.
"In general Teacher is papa and mama in one bottle, so get used to it."
"You'll suggest I grow something else... for complete resemblance. With mama," Snape pronounced with clearly mocking intonation.
"Well... like this already better. Welcome back, Severus," Flitwick saluted him with teacup. "Still this was just dream. Think boy dreamed of mother and feeling you near simply mumbled this word. After all adults closer than you he doesn't have. But addressed not to you. Though... Should I repeat about Teacher?"
"But why me? I'm generally little capable of feelings, especially warm ones... Why not you, Filius? You're softer, kinder..."
"Because he needs the warmth of the human soul," Flitwick smiled humorlessly. "Goblins don't produce such. Can't. Even if they're only half goblin."
"Your half-goblin sensitivity and tact anyone can only marvel at!" Severus objected. "I know for sure."
Flitwick smiled.
"You were already adult then. Let youth, completely green, but already life-beaten, and main thing standing on own feet. You already lived alone over year, alone in your house, prepared for school, earned something, even trifles, but you managed. And Harry's still only thirteen. Were he older everything would be completely different. Now he needs adult capable not only to teach, correct, pull back but also share normal human warmth. Pat on shoulder. Hug. Of us two he then unerringly chose you. Despite your role 'bad cop.' Spitting on two years your, to put it mildly, 'not established' relations. You have much in common with him, Severus. Very much."
"I know. But I'm not going to baby him at least because simply can't."
"Don't need. He has enough of your shoulder into which he could bury sometimes. Though... I'd look if you decided to practice."
Severus was about to object but Teacher stopped him with gesture.
"Important to understand that if something happens to Harry, God forbid, you'll simply burn out. From oath, from Mark... what's difference. But forewarned is forearmed. We know how things stand. Others—don't. Let it remain so as long as possible. Go sleep already or is there more to tell?"
Report about all that happened during the evening took surprisingly little time. But two variants of Black's future were questions wanted solved by both.
"Use Malfoy of course would be ideal but risky including for himself. But Muggles... Tomorrow evening I'll come to you for say Wit-Sharpening. Have several projects not enough time for, will finish some of them. When does Harry have detention? At six? Go sleep already, I'll make last rounds for you, no sleep in either eye anyway. Will also think."