Summer Ends-Chapter 10

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I don't own Harry Potter

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The rest of the summer passed fairly quickly, without any trouble. The Malfoys were often over at the Snape/Potter household. Draco whispered to Harry it was because their house often felt too big now with Narcissa gone. Lucius and Severus had decided that when the school year came, Lucius, Draco and their two-house-elf's would come stay at Severus's home, much to Harry's delight. They were moving the books from the bedroom-library into the actual library, it was more cramped. But this way, both boys would have a private space to go. Severus helped Harry decorate his bedroom, covering the walls and bookshelves. By the time they were done, his room actually looked like an eight-year old's room, maybe a slightly spoiled one. An inaccurate appearance if Severus ever saw one. Harry was still overwhelmed by every little gift he received, Severus could bury the kid in gifts and he still wouldn't end up a spoiled, rotten snob of a boy like some kids Severus had taught over the years.

Harry and Draco also had several sleepovers, and a camping trip in a muggle tent, which Draco called Primitive and lazy, much to Severus's amusement. Harry also dove into the collection of books in his new house, much to Severus's delight he seemed to be taking a dual interest in defensive spells, and potions like he and Lily had.

The summer was great, now that the house was full, but it felt too short to Severus. All of a sudden, he was packing his bags and preparing his classroom. Trying to prepare himself for long days of teaching without Harry.

Severus stifles a cry. This was his first time that going back to Hogwarts hurt him. As a student he'd been so relieved to leave home, getting to leave his broken house was sweet relief back then. As an adult he hadn't had a reason to care where he was either way. But now he had Harry. This sweet boy that trusted him despite all of his many shortcomings. Not only that, he also now had the Malfoys always over at his house. It was like a true community; a weird mismatched family system. He couldn't remember the last time he felt so secure at home.

Just five days. He reminded himself. Then you can come back.

"Hey Sev?"

Severus forced a calm look on to his face, before turning. "Hi Harry, I just finished packing, what's up?"

"Y-you'll be back on Saturday, right?" He mumbles, his eyes on Severus's suitcase.

"Maybe Friday night." Severus comforts, squeezing the boy's shoulder. He knew despite how hard this was for him, Harry was struggling too. This was the first time they'd be separated for more than a day

Speaking of witch, Harry dug his shoe into the floor at Secerus's statement.

"Hey, if you're good, maybe we can go on a hike over the weekend, I want to get some fresh Baneberries."

Harry's tense face grew with excitement, "O-okay!" He says, finally smiling.

"Can...can I have a hug?" Severus asks shyly. He'd grown to enjoy the boy's warm hugs, but felt uncomfortable asking, he still wasn't used to touching. Harry had no reservation though, and hurried over to Severus, embracing the man, practically burying himself in Severus's fresh black robes.

"Come on." Severus says, leading Harry out of his office. "I should be getting going."

They stopped next to the fireplace, and the Malfoys stepped forward to say goodbye. Severus had originally felt guilty over leaving Lucius with two eight-year-old wizards. But Lucius assured he and the elf's could easily handle the two.

Draco hugs him goodbye, Lucius smirks at Severus's shocked face as he hugs Draco back.

"Take care, Lucius." Severus says, patting his friends' shoulder. "Look after the boys."

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Harry threw himself back into Severus's arms for a final goodbye hug, Severus swore he could hear Harry sniffling again. "You can write to me." Severus reminds him, resting his head on top of Harrys. "Remember?"

"Right....right." Harry sighs, running his hands over his face. "I'm good."

With a few last well wishes, he steps into the fire, and waves goodbye, before disappearing from his house.

Briskly making his way out of the smoky fireplace, he made his way to his room, waving his wand to allow his stuff to fly into its spot. The final touch was setting a moving picture of him, and Harry in their seats at Harry's first Quidditch game. It had been a windy day, Severus's hair was windswept, and Harry was bundled up in a navy sweater. He was leaning over to fit into the camera's frame, and Severus was smiling down at him in amusement.

He stares at the picture for several moments, the picture brought so many thoughts up for him. Would Harry join a quidditch team when he came to Hogwarts? Would it be Slytherin? Severus desperately wanted Harry to be one of his Slytherins. But he was doing his best to let Harry know that any house would be great. Though hopefully not Hufflepuff. He thought.

By the time he looked away from the picture, the sorting was almost about to start, and he had to hustle down the hall.

"Hello Severus."

"Minerva." Severus says icily, stopping in front of the Gryffindor head of house.

"I'm glad to hear Harrys doing well with you." Minerva says.

"Yes well, anything is better than a couple who abuses you, and tries to squash the magic from you." He grumbles.

Severus had been thinking a lot about the Gryffindor head of house, she had watched the Dursleys and allowed Dumbledore to give Harry to them. She had taught Lily and James, and watched over them with pride, but had allowed their son to be given to magic-haters.

"Severus..." Minerva says weakly. "I am sorry about that...I had no idea about what was happening. Dumbledore, he..."

"Yes, Dumbledore does fall short when it comes to children's safety." Severus mutters.

She casts him a sympatric look, as if saying I might have screwed up, but not as bad as him. "You should go sit down." Minerva says finally. "The sorting will start soon."

Severus sighs and heads away from the woman. What did he expect? She had no children; she hadn't had to comfort a child who woke up screaming after a nightmare over his uncle. She couldn't understand, even if she tried. He sat down in his seat, he missed Lucius, the man could be vain, but he understood worrying over your kid. 

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Severus swept into the Slytherin common room to meet the new crop of Slytherins and his old ones. He had promised himself that he would try and be a bit gentler to the students, less hateful glares. Harry's sweetness was rubbing off on him, he thought ruthfully.

"Alright." Severus says, meeting eyes with his students. "Congratulations on getting here, but we need to discuss house rules. First off, a few simple rules that you need to follow. First off, The Hogwarts House Elves are not your servants. Keeping your dorm rooms and the common room clean is your responsibility." Severus had kept a tidy house with an eight-year-old, and was determined to keep it that way with his students. "Secondly, I am not excepting you to be angels, I know there will be pranks, and fights. But please prank other houses, not each other, and nothing permanent. Also, if you are going to fight, do it privately. Slytherin wants to present a united front, work together."

He saw a few kids grin at the allowing of pranking other houses, along with some determined nods. Slytherins took care of each other, a fact that the other houses seemed to ignore, and his new Slytherins would help show this to them. "Unless you're a prefect and have patrol duty, you must be in your dormitory and in bed by the 10:00 p.m. curfew and may not leave their house common rooms until 6:00 a.m," He continues. "No one wants kids falling asleep in their class." He was reminded of a Ravenclaw nodding off one day in his class and losing two fingers. "Slytherins are hard workers." He adds. "You will put effort into your work. The prefects will be checking in on all of you to make sure you're getting your work done."

He had talked to the prefects earlier, they were excited for to responsibility and power over their friends, he'd already seen them shining their new badges.

"Finally, never forget the Secret of Slytherin: You are a mix of all the best parts of each house, Plan in ways a Ravenclaw finds sound. Unite like the Hufflepuffs, you'll get farther if you help others. You are brave like a Gryffindor but smarter, think things through, and be ready to react, Slytherin are swift, you take action when needed."

The Slytherins share a superior looking grin, obviously enjoying the feeling of power.

"One more thing." Severus calls. "This is a harder topic, so I figured I should leave it for last."

The students looked back to him, wondering what to expect.

"The dark arts will not be tolerated in my house." Severus says coldly. "Any student found practicing, will be expelled, and possibly prosecuted depending on the severity."

"Weren't you...a death eater?" A third year asks shyly.

Severus frowns, and the kids wilts a bit. "I was." He says stiffly. "But I grew, and learned from my mistakes, as I hope you will. I know a lot of your parents still cling to the ancient ways but I hope you will all try to forge your own paths." He glances around at the students. He recognized some of them from his death eater days, some of them truly shared their parents faces. "We are trying to distance Slytherin from the evil persona it seems to have." Severus says. "You all are encouraged to educate yourself and help our house grow."

He saw some doubtful faces, mostly from the older kids who'd been set in their ways. Hopefully the younger kids would be easier to sway. "Alright, dismissed." He snaps. "Have a good night." He cast a mischievous look at his students. "And study for Potions."

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Yesss! ten chapters out!

Hope you enjoyed it!

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