Summary - A challenge has been set. The most remarkable of all. Make Severus Snape laugh.

Disclaimer - All characters belong to the talented J.K.Rowling and the nice people at Warner. The plot is inspired by her work except the parts that are not so good. But if she who owns HP likes this, she can keep it.

AN - You might want to read Loki's Secret and Loki's Awakening before this one. It might help you understand a bit better.

xxxx

Chapter 2 - Revealed

Professor Snape went against his initial desire to stay in his rooms that morning. His belongings had been returned to him as promised, yet he had still chosen some of his new robes for the day. He did not want to spook his prey.

He went down to the Great Hall, being observant of everyone he passed. He planned to stay and dawdle over his breakfast as long as he dared. The effects of the charm he had used on the letter would last for a few hours, yet he was curious on what he would see. Sometimes it took a trickster to catch a trickster. He had never really been one, but Slytherins are nothing if not fast learners.

He had placed a subtle marking charm that would make whoever touched the letter shine beyond the spectrum of visible light. It would passed unnoticed unless you used muggle contraptions for such things or drank a potion that would let you see it. Like he had.

He was still undecided to whether he'd assign detention or give points to whoever had put him through the wringer for almost two weeks. In true Slytherin attitude, it would depend on how sincere the offender had been regarding his or their motives.

He was not prepared for what he saw as soon as he walked inside.

Only one person was showing the signs he had been looking for. That person was currently sitting on the Gryffindor table and talking quietly with some fellow students, from different houses, he noticed. Members of that blasted DA group he had organized and leaded.

Potter.

He was torn between rage and disbelief. He would never in a million years given Potter the credit to get away with something like what had happened, even if he had the whole of Gryffindor tower helping him. Yet here was the unmistakable proof that he had in fact done it. And he was the only one that had touched his letter as far as he could tell. Neither Granger or Weasley showed any signs of it.

"Severus." The headmaster's voice intruded. Albus Dumbledore was standing at his side. Snape's was being held by the elbow and propelled from the scene.

He let the headmaster lead him away from the Hall. His shock not letting him process what was happening. He shook himself and as he looked into the headmaster's eyes he knew Dumbledore was fully aware of what he had just found out. Then again there was very little Albus did not know about what happened at Hogwarts.

Automatic accusation took over "The nerve of that arrogant, presumptuous..."

"Severus."

"... blasted..."

"Severus!" The headmaster said sharply.

The potions master forced himself to stop ranting before the headmaster hexed him. He knew full well that insulting Potter in front of the old teacher, was risking certain pain.

"Mr. Potter did what he did because I challenged him to."

"You what? You asked him to break into my rooms, take my clothes, meddle into my things..."

"I challenged him to make you laugh. The how he did it was his choice."

"To simple to do a Cheering charm?" He sneered automatically.

"We both know that would not have worked." Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eyes.

The Head of Slytherin was still too vexed to let this go. "It still did not give him right to do what he did. He arrogantly barged into my rooms and..."

"Replaced your clothes, shampoo and towels. Braided your hair on occasion. Hardly things that would harm you."

"He made the assumption that I care about such things."

"Don't you?" The headmaster asked raising his eyebrow. Taking in the elegant robes Severus was in fact wearing today.

Snape had the grace to flush. "Why did he do it?" He hissed.

"Harry has some very strange ideas about being judged on appearance only. He thinks it's wrong." The headmaster mused.

Why on earth would he think that? He's the Golden boy of wizarding society. Just one look at his famous scar and everyone bends over to him. "Ridiculous, he certainly benefits from all the attention he gets because of how he looks like."

"Does he? Do you treat him any differently because of what he looks like?"

Snape opened his mouth to retort that he had never treated the icon of Gryffindor any differently. But those blue eyes wouldn't let him lie. Even to himself. Potter took too much after his father for him to actually bother separating them his mind. He looks like James Potter. With Lily's eyes.

"If you had taken a look into his eyes when he read your letter Severus, maybe you would understand. For the first time you judged him on something he did and you complimented him on it, because you didn't know it was him."

Realization hit the Potions teacher like a Bludgeoning hex. He accepted that before knowing who it was, he had in fact admired the person who had tormented him with kindness, to the point of even considering giving points to a meddler. In truth, he had in part hoped that one of the staff had done it. It would have been so much easier to understand and deal with a colleague than with a student. Especially Potter.

"Did you help him, Albus?"

The headmaster smiled at his use of his given name. Something Severus rarely did. "No. I just issued the challenge. And before you ask, he did not tell me how he was doing it."

"And you would prefer that I did not punish him for it?" The Potions Master asked straightening up proudly. If the headmaster was going to order him otherwise...

"What you do is your decision." The headmaster hesitated before continuing. "I noticed the charm on the letter, but I did not let him know about it. He was too curious about what you would write to consider a trick. Well, in all fairness, he did check for charms, but he did not know about the one you used."

Snape smiled. He had in fact used a charm not in use for centuries. Not everyone could brew the potion that revealed it.

"Did you mean what you wrote?"

"Every word, Albus."

oooo

"... leave your essays on Veritaserum on my desk as you leave. I expect you to have researched thoroughly on the subject."

Suppressed groans could be heard from the assembled students. Not loud enough to identify them, but enough to be felt. I see the three Gryffindors pick up their things and head towards the door. Granger being selected to place their parchments on his desk.

"Mr. Potter, stay for a moment."

The black haired member of the infamous trio turned his head, eyes showed surprise. The other two look at him, concern in their eyes evident. Yes, there are days when a teacher's job is very satisfying.

"Go on." The leader says to the other two. "I'll meet you in the common room later."

"We'll wait for you." Weasley says stubbornly in a low voice. Severus suppressed the knowing grin that threatened to take over.

"That won't be necessary, Mr. Weasley." The red-head looked ready to confront the most dreaded teacher in the school on behalf of his friend. Loyalty can be dangerous.

"Go." Potter says quietly. While a confrontation with the Potions Master will not always deter someone, that voice certainly will.

Potter faced his teacher wit a guarded look as his two sidekicks left. His posture straight, yet not challenging. Severus observed him clinically, trying to examine him with fresh eyes. Yes he looks remarkably like James Potter did at that age. Yet, the important details are very different. No cheeky look in his face, no arrogant confidence, no nonchalance. And the eyes, ah yes the eyes. Not only are they just like Evans were, it's the haunted look there that is different (or is it hunted?). He looks like he carries the weight of the world and is trying very hard not to let it show.

"Professor?" He asks. The famed Gryffindor impatience.

"Leave your things here, Mr. Potter and follow me."

Snape swept away from him, towards the door connecting to the private stores and work office. He could tell that Potter hesitates for a moment and can almost tell that he shrugs before following him.

Severus Snape entered his office to find things as he had requested earlier. The elegant snake silver tea set has been laid out on the desk. A fire on the hearth. Drapes closed. He turned towards him most irritating student and noticed the quick glance towards the tea service as the expression turns even more guarded than before. Potter is not known to have a trusting nature.

With a flick of a wand, the teapot serves two cups. He stood on one side while Potter watched him carefully, green eyes following the movements, concentrating on the wand in his teacher's hand. The Potions Master reached into his pocket and pulled out a vial of clear liquid. He could tell that Potter recognized the bottle he was threatened with a few years back.

"Mr. Potter, add three drops to both cups, if you will." He told him offering the vial to the boy.

If his most reluctant student did his essay properly, he will know that there is no real antidote for Veritaserum, that taking it knowingly and with other liquids or food will diminish some of its effects. He takes the vial and with a puzzled and resentful glance he did as asked. The three drops are in.

"Drink it." The professor indicated while reaching for the other cup and starting to drink himself. He had called it right, Potter would never have drunk the concoction if he had not seen the tea served before his eyes and added the drops himself. Severus knew he was taking a gamble, but the stakes were too high to pull back now.

oooo

The tea was drunk in silence. The two of them watched each other with some trepidation. Potter seemed determined to avoid any confrontation. Severus kept his examination of the person he considered a thorn on his side.

"Why did you do it, Mr. Potter?"

"Do what Professor? Even with Veritaserum, I think you need to be more specific." Yet, sweat was beading his forehead. He had understood the meaning of the question yet had somehow managed to deflect it.

Very well. A direct question was needed. "How did you get inside my rooms?"

"Through the door."

An honest yet useless answer. Yes, Potter had indeed done his homework regarding the limitations of Veritaserum when used on an aware subject.

"How did you disable the wards?"

"I didn't. I used your key."

"What?"

"You always use the same password. Your wards thought I was you."

Severus felt his jaw grow slack in surprise. It was true, he always used the same code word for his rooms, not having bothered to change it in years. A very arrogant mistake on his part. And arrogant can be dangerous. Arrogance can mean death in some situations.

"Did you like the robes?" Potter asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Yes." Snape answered before he could help himself. The smile he saw in Potter's face infuriated him for a moment. He had known the risks of drinking the serum along with the boy. Not that he'd had had any answers otherwise.

"What was the most difficult?"

"Getting your measurements for the robes and shoes." He was tempted to ask how he had done that particular bit, but he realized that he did not want to know.

"How did you know it was me?"

"I placed a tracking charm of sorts on the letter I left."

"Oh." There was frustrated flush on his face. He had been caught by something so simple, just because he had thought the prank over.

"Why did you do it?"

"The headmaster wanted you to laugh. I knew that it had to be something clever and infuriating at the same time. Something you could respect and laugh in spite of everything. Getting the upper hand yet with sportsmanship. Something very Slytherin."

"I see." And it was a very Slytherin way to go about it. He wondered how the most extreme example of Gryffindor idiocy had ever come up with it. Maybe there was something more to Potter than he'd ever given him credit for.

"Did you mean what you wrote?" The hope in his voice barely hidden.

"Yes."

The smile lit up his face like fireworks. It was in the moment that Severus Snape realized something very important about the young man in front of him. He might look like James' twin, but he had his mother's soul.

"I insist on paying for the clothes, Mr. Potter."

"There's no need for that, sir. I used Sirius' money for them. I knew you'd appreciate the irony. After all, I know he did in fact ruin some of your clothes when you both were younger. I thought it was only fair."

Snape smiled before he could help it. He had resented James with a passion, but he had truly hated Sirius Black. The fact that it was his former enemy's money that had been used for the robes did give him an odd sort of satisfaction. Black would be spinning in his grave. If he'd had one. Yes, very Slytherin indeed.

Of course, Potter had just revealed one other important fact. He was not only the heir to the Potter money, but also of the Black family trust. He was probably looking at the richest student after Finch-Fletchey. Wouldn't Malfoy be livid if he knew.

"Very well. That will be all for now, Mr. Potter."

He rises to take his leave.

"Mr. Potter, keep in mind the serum will be in effect for an hour at least. Be careful who you talk to." For Merlin's sake I'm being almost friendly to him.

Potter noded his understanding and left without another word, relief showing plainly in his manner.

oooo

That night when Harry Potter got ready for bed, he found a small package waiting for him on his covers. Mindful of possible tricks (or even harm), he tried every revealing charm he could think of before opening it.

He found a folded scarf inside. A Hogwarts scarf. All four houses traditional colors blended to make a beautiful pattern.

There was a short note attached.

Cunning, Wit, Perseverance and Courage. To each it's own. Together invincible.

You might consider making the games master your next subject.

No signature was needed.

The games master. He knew perfectly well who had sent the scarf and what it suggested. It was well worth thinking about.

xxxx

AN - I don't think that Severus and Harry will settle their differences even after this. More like a truce.

Please let me know what you think.