Chapter 11: Fights, Rescue and Pills?

"Mental? Ron, she's always been mental!" exclaimed Harry.

Ron looked ready to care on the conversation when Hermione interrupted, "Both of you should be ashamed of yourselves."

"Why is that? You and her don't exactly see eye to eye," commented Ron reminding her of the spat she had, had with the Divination teacher a few weeks ago.

"She's still a teacher. That's why," countered Hermione, raising her hand to lightly punch Ron in the arm. She would have too if she hadn't seen Harry flinch out of the corner of her eye and simply pushed down on his books, sending them crashing to the ground.

"Oi!" shouted Ron, collecting his fallen textbooks and supplies.

"Better hurry, Ron. Don't want to be late for Professor Lupin," smirked Hermione knowing D.A.D.A was the one class the boys always loved going to. "Come, on Harry!"

They hadn't gone far when Professor McGonagall rounded the corner and headed over to the pair, "Mr. Potter, I'd like to speak with you for a moment."

Harry jerked his head up from where it had been watching the floor to look at his Head of House with some concern, "Did I do something wrong?"

The Head of Gryffindor gave her young lion a suspicious look and said, "Well, did you do something, wrong?"

Harry tried to look back over the last few hours of his day, but other than missing a f...he had missed some classes, but Sn-his father had said he'd spoken to McGonagall, "Um, is this about skipping your class, Professor?"

McGonagall shook her head and turned quickly to Ms. Granger who had yet to head into her classroom, "Ms. Granger, tell Professor Lupin that I'll be speaking to Mr. Potter."

Hermione nodded slowly, giving Harry a sympathetic smile as she continued her walk to the classroom just as Ron came running behind her, not giving Harry or Professor McGonagall a second thought.

When she was sure no one else was in the corridors, McGonagall gestured for Harry to follow her and lead him up to her office so they discuss some things. As was now the routine for the young teen, Harry followed at more subdued pace with his head down as he followed her. A few minutes later, teacher and student were sitting in a small office, sipping hot cocoa.

Harry had been reluctant at first, but after some encouragement had decided it was better to play along than start a useless argument.

"Now, as much as it pains me to say this, Harry. Your father and I have talked and we both have decided that you will not be playing in this Quidditch game," stated McGonagall, hesitantly.

"What?" asked Harry, taking on the more reckless Gryffindor side of him. "Why?"

"I know I have been relaxed in the way I deal with about rules and punishments, but after taking to Professor Snape, I agree that I need to step up as an authority figure," replied Minerva, knowing Severus would have her head if she didn't do this. Harry needed guidance and be treated like any other child, even she had to agree that things needed to change.

"He can't do this, Professor. It's the only thing I have," argued Harry as tears fell down his face. He knew he was being a baby, but Quidditch gave him friends. If he couldn't play Quidditch then maybe his friends wouldn't play with him.

Professor McGonagall shook her head sadly, "I'm sorry but after the last two games and Sirius Black, I can not and will not risk your life. The Headmaster may have given you some leniency and me too, but he is no longer in charge of you. The decision is final. You are of course, welcome to fly but only if one of the teachers is with you."

Harry looked at her ready to argue, but the small fearful voice inside his head reminded him that he would be punished severely if he yelled back at his Head of House. He couldn't believe his father had taken away the one thing he loved most in the world.

"I'm really sorry, Harry. The other thing I wanted to discuss is that I need you to give me your invisibility cloak; yes I know you have it. I used find your fat-your step-father using it when he didn't think I was paying attention," ordered McGonagall.

This time Harry was too upset to think about the consequences and immediately stood up, knocking over the small chair he'd been sitting in. "That's not fair. It's the only thing I have from my..er..step-father!"

"I know, but I've also had enough of you wandering the corridors at night. The rules are there for a reason, not because we don't trust you, but we want to keep you and the rest of the students safe. If I had known Professor Dumbledore had given it to you earlier, I most certainly would have taken it. Now, please hand it over, Harry," said Minerva, softly.

Harry shook his head as tears threatened again to fall down his cheeks. A voice in his head reminded him of what his so-called father had done and he clenched his fists. "Fine take it, burn it, do whatever you want with it. He's certainly not my father anymore," and stormed out the room, leaving the worried teacher in her office.

Harry didn't care where he ran as long as he was far away from his teacher and father and anything to do with his crumbling world. He stopped when he realized he had run right towards Gryffindor tower, but decided it was better than anywhere else and mumbled the password before stepping in. Harry looked around but no one was around, probably because it was nice and sunny outside. Of course, he could see a storm coming, but he didn't take notice. He walked up to the 3rd year boy dormitories and looked for his trunk that he had brought with him. Surprisingly he was still tired even after missing two classes to have a power nap. Deciding that he would have a little rest, he headed over to his bed and removed the blankets.

Just as he was crawling into the blanket he stopped, McGonagall was probably mad at him for yelling at her. 'What if she told Professor Snape that he needed to be punished?' thought Harry. He tried to shake the thoughts, but his Uncle's face loomed up at him.

Harry's face paled at the thought and would have gone back to apologize, but his bed was so warm and inviting. Except now he knew he'd have nightmares and he didn't want to chance one of the boys coming up and getting a teacher. Just as he had that thought, another thought came to his mind and he quickly went to his trunk. Luckily, his father hadn't decided that it was time to go through his trunk and he was grateful for once. Pulling out clothes and books, he reached all the way to the bottom and found what he was looking for. Slowly, he removed a bottle of pills and looked at the name, scrunching up his face to see the word 'Ativan'. He remembered the first time his Uncle had given a pill to him and it stopped his nightmares, instantly.

Looking to make sure no one was around, the small thirteen year old opened the pill bottle and removed a small round pill. Closing the bottle and throwing it back into his trunk, along with his other stuff, he went into the bathroom and got some water, returning to his bed. Crawling into bed, he drank some water and swallowed the pill before he lay down and closed his eyes. A half hour later, he was sound a sleep in a place where not even the nightmares could go.

Meanwhile, a worried Minerva McGonagall was pacing her office wandering what was taking Harry so long. She had assumed after the anger in the child's tone that he would coming back to hand her his invisibility cloak. Of course, a few minutes turned into a half hour and soon class was ended for the day and dinner time was close. By that point, McGonagall was concerned and decided to call Severus to see if Harry had come down to him, asking for an explanation.

Throwing some floo powder into the fire, she called out Severus's office and stepped through, coming out just as gracefully as if it had been a door. Her face turned into a frown when she saw her colleague at his desk, marking up some poor child's homework.

He looked up when she cleared her throat and seemed slightly surprised to see her walking over to him "Is there something wrong, Minerva?"

"Actually there is, Severus. I was wondering if Mr. Potter came down here. He and I got into a bit of a fight regarding his invisibility cloak," pressed McGonagall.

Severus was instantly on the alert and for the 100th time, which was a huge exaggeration, his son had gone missing, "I haven't seen him since I brought him down here for a nap like Madame Pomfrey said."

Minerva looked at Severus and could see just how stretched the young Potion Master was. Not only did he have a house of slytherins to look after, he had Potion lessons to go over and now of course his own son. She knew Severus would never admit that he was over-exhausted, but being his teacher for seven years and now his colleague, she knew the young man was carrying too much baggage.

"Severus, have you ever thought of giving your self a break?" asked Minerva, startling her ex-student into looking at her.

"What exactly does this have to do with finding Harry?" snapped Severus, after the shock of the elder witch changing the topic.

"Oh, Severus you and I both know that you've been having a rough year and having Harry to look after has made it worse. Maybe it would be good for both of you to spend this term, focusing on Harry and getting him on the road to healing," offered Minerva, ignoring Severus's remark. Besides, it was unlikely that the young 3rd year had gotten into trouble.

"I… you know I'm the only one that gives a damn about my Snakes. Who would look out for them? Albus? He most certainly wouldn't…Slughorn? He's the most incompetent teacher I've ever seen other than that divination professor. I can't just pack up and leave them," argued Severus.

"Severus, I am more than capable of taking over your snakes. I'm sure the Headmaster won't mind taking over Gryffindor for me. Besides, it's time those two classes started learning how to get along. I don't know what Albus was thinking letting the rivalry continue," Severus looked ready to cut her off, but she held her hand up, "Yes, I know that I was blind to it as well, but Albus has gone to far and I willing to change. I want to be there for all my students, including your snakes if you'll let me."

Severus looked at Minerva for a few minutes, thinking over what she had said. Even he was tired of the constant house rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Not to mention, she was right about being stretched thin. Taking care of an abused child, like his son was very draining and he had yet to broach the subject of his home life with him. "I think you may be right, Minerva, but first and foremost we need to go look for my son."

Professor McGonagall smiled at the Potion Master and together they exited his office and headed up to the Great Hall to see if the young boy had gone to eat with friends. Reaching the entrance, they saw and the youngest Weasley looking for something or someone.

Minerva was the first to speak, "Ms. Granger, Mr. Weasley do you happen to know where Mr. Potter is?"

Ms. Granger looked at Ron and they both shook their heads, making the adults worried as to where the scared boy had gotten to.

"Very, well, you both should make your ways into the Great Hall incase Mr. Potter comes here, while we check the Quidditch pitch," commanded Severus, hoping the boy wasn't stupid enough to go flying in the bad weather. The students nodded and the two professors headed out in the now poring rain to look for the young boy.

After several minutes of searching, they headed back inside drenched in water, even after casting several water-repellant charms on themselves. Spelling their robes dry, they decided to check the kitchen incase Harry had gotten something to eat. That too, proved to be a waste of time, as did checking Severus's quarters.

"That boy is going to be very sorry when I find him," muttered Severus under his breath, but unfortunately he wasn't very quiet as he looked at his now glaring colleague.

"And just what do you plan to do, Severus? Lock him up in his room? Spank him? Didn't you tell me that you had to go easy on him? That boy has gone through quite enough and don't give me that look Severus, I know how you handle your slytherins," retorted Minerva.

Severus ran a hand through his hair, letting loose a big sigh and said, "You're right. I can't give him a reason to be scared of me. I need him to trust that I am not like his relatives, and I can't do that if I start punishing him like my slytherins."

Minerva nodded, "Might I suggest grounding or perhaps scrubbing out cauldrons?"

Severus looked at her and replied, "Yes, that might be a better way."

"Good, then lets continue our search," suggested McGonagall, walking away knowing Severus would easily catch up with her. "We could check th-"

The elderly witch stopped as a ghostly, blue phoenix came out of nowhere and landed down in front of them. Seeing that both adults were paying attention the bird opened it's beak and the voice of the Headmaster said, "Minerva and Severus, I require your appearance in my office in five minutes. The password is 'lemon drops'."

The two adults glared at the messenger and grudgingly headed the opposite way as the Patronus disappeared. They walked in silent, both lost in their own thoughts until they got to the gargoyle barricading the Headmaster's office.

Minerva sighed and spoke the password, causing the gargoyle to rotate and show the curved staircase that would lead to their employer. Neither knocked on the door, knowing it was pointless and a waste of time.

"What do you want, Albus? I am rather busy at the moment," asked Severus getting straight to the point, hoping the Headmaster would get straight to the point.

"Hmm…oh yes, good day Severus, Minerva. I'm sorry to say that Dursleys have just filed for custody of their nephew," informed the Headmaster.

"WHAT!" shouted Severus storming over to his employer's desk and grabbing the parchment that the old man handed him.

"Albus there must be some mistake. Certainly WCS has seen that it's not safe to have a child living there," argued Minerva.

"I'm sorry, Minerva, but they saw no evidence to confirm Severus's claim that they neglected Harry and seeing as the boy won't talk, I can't change their mind," replied Dumbledore.

Severus slammed the paper on the desk and glared angrily at the old man, "You're lying! If Harry had been James's son you would have done everything for that boy. Now that he's my son, the rules have changed. It's not that you can't change their mind, it's that you won't change their mind."

"Be reasonable, Severus. I'm doing all that I can, but if Harry won't talk then there really isn't much I can do," reasoned the Headmaster, calmly.

"This is all just some sort of sick, twisted game you're playing so that you don't loose your silly pawn. Isn't that right? That's all Harry ever was to you, right? You never loved him; you just kept him alive so that he could die at the proper moment. You've been raising him like a pig for slaughter!" snarled Severus.

Minerva put a hand out to stop Severus from killing the Headmaster and tried to calm her colleague down while glaring at the man, she had thought she would give her life for, "I can't believe you, Albus."

"Minni-"

Don't, Headmaster! You've said enough and don't EVER call me that again," snapped Minerva.

"I told you the day would come when I would stand up against you, sir," spat Severus, trying to calm his beating heart, "I told you, you wouldregret ever denying me my wife and I'm standing with it. I'm resigning and I'm taking Harry with me where he can't be hurt by you or the Dursleys."

"Severus, sit down and let's talk about this," pleaded Dumbledore.

It was Minerva who chose that moment to intervene before Severus actually decided to go through with attacking the Headmaster, "No, Albus I stand with Severus on this. The boy is not ready to handle that monster and if I had known this was your plan, I never would have gone along with it."

"Severus, do you honestly expect to be able to hide from Voldemort's followers? You and I both know that he will rise again," tried Albus, getting up from his desk.

"If being a spy has taught me anything, sir, it's how to hide from your enemies. I won't let me son grow up thinking that's his only purpose. Right now, he needs a chance to be a normal boy with normal problems. I'm putting my foot down on this. I am getting Harry out of here, tonight!" hissed Severus.

"Oh, and what do you plan to do about the Dursleys?" inquired Albus, hoping to find some control in all of this.

"I'll talk to a friend of mine and get Harry a trial. I promised that he would never go back there and I intend to keep it that way. With or without your approval! Good-bye, Headmaster!" snarled Severus and turned storming out of the Headmaster's office, followed by a just as upset Minerva.

After descending the stairs and throwing a good choice swear words at the Headmaster for his meddling, he looked at Minerva, sadly.

"I promised him, Minerva. I had no choice," whispered Severus.

Minerva nodded, "I know. You made the right decision, but where will you go?"

"Bluewood Manor, my mother took me there over the holidays. It's heavily warded and unplottable so that even, Albus Dumbledore can't go peaking around," answered Severus walking towards Gryffindor Tower with McGonagall following behind.

"Makes sense. I hope, Severus that you will come to me if you need anything," offered Minerva.

"Of course. I'll even change the wards so you can floo through, however I do not want the other two thirds of the trio knowing where Mr. Potter is," instructed Severus.

"Don't give me that look, Severus. You have my word that I will keep this between the two of us. I wo-Mr. Potter?" asked Minerva looking up ahead to see the very boy climbing out of the portrait and looking very worried.

Severus followed her gaze and knowing that everyone was still in the Great Hall ran straight over to Harry, crushing the boy in a hug ignoring the flinch. He didn't care if he had startled the boy, he was just so relieved that Harry was safe and sound.

"Sir, what's going on?" piped up Harry when Severus finally pulled slightly away to get a good look at the boy.

"We need to leave, Harry. Pack your bags, quickly," urged Severus, deciding he could be angry at his son later when they were safely away from Hogwarts. "Minerva, I'll come collect my things as soon as possible."

"Of course. Take care, Mr. Potter and try to behave," smiled the stern witch.

Too shocked to say anything, Harry just simply followed his father's lead back to the Gryffindor portrait and pushed Harry into the common room, telling him to grab everything. He was even more tired than when he had gone to sleep, and his eyes were barely staying awake. He was worried what was going on, but figured his father would explain later. Taking the steps as quick as possible, Harry walked over to his trunk and started putting his stuff into his trunk. Remembering the pill bottle in the bottom of the trunk, he made sure to stuff it in the corner, out of the way. That done, he grabbed his wand and Hedwig's empty cage and slowly made his way back down to the open door.

Severus nodded and flicked his wand at the trunk and cage, picking them up and placing them into his pocket before gesturing for Harry to follow him. Walking down the stairs, Severus made sure his wand was on hand in case, the Headmaster tried to stop them. He wouldn't feel safe until he was inside the old manor house. He checked back to see if Harry was following him and stopped when he saw Harry slowing down and yawning. Severus looked at his son, worriedly and decided that the boy just needed a whole day of sleep to keep him on track. Walking back towards the boy, he cast a feather-weight charm and knelt beside his son.

"Harry would you mind if I carried you?" asked Severus, looking behind him for fear of running into someone.

Against Harry's better judgment in the fact that he was a bit too old to be carried anywhere, the drowsy side of the boy accepted the offer and Harry stretched out his arms to be picked up. Severus quickly picked up the under-weight boy and continued his march towards the entrance hall. If he could make it out of the gate, then he could apparate out of there. He quickened his pace knowing he still had to careful of Harry in his arms. The pair was just rounding the corner, when he spotted the Headmaster talking to Professor Lupin. Panic started to cloud Severus's mind as he tried to figure out how to get past the pair. Thinking quickly, Severus cast a silent invisibility spell that the Potion Master had created in his time spent in school. Having enough of the Marauders's bullying, he had come up with an invisibility spell that allowed the caster to muffle every part of their body. The only problem and danger of it was that it required the caster to hold their breath.

As luck would have it, Severus had been subjected several times to being partially drowned by his fellow classmates and was able to hold his breath for a long time. Taking a deep breath, Severus plowed on moving as quickly and quietly as possible. He didn't fully trust any of the spells he created and moved cautiously passed the pair, who continued on their conversation. The spell worked like a charm, hiding father and son until they were outside Hogwarts. Slowly, the tall, dark man breathed out and was once again visible to spectators.

Silently, the pair continued on their way moving like shadows in the growing darkness and getting pelted by cold rain water. When they were close to the gate, Severus silently cast the Patronus Charm and instantly a silver doe appeared, bounding right and left in front of him. He smiled as he thought about Lily, before concentrating back on the doe. He needed to focus on getting pas the dementors and out of there before the wards alerted the Headmaster of there absence. Right on cue, the air turned colder and the rain turned into ice as two Dementors appeared hovering at the gate. They advanced towards the Potion Master, but the silver doe beside them was already sprinting to meet them.

The Dementors screeched in pain as the doe's power hit them, sending them both floating away, out of harms way. Nodding its head approvingly, the doe trotted back over to Severus and continued to circle around him. Another few dementors tried there luck at attacking, but the doe easily chased them off by sprinting towards them. At last, the man and doe reached the main gate of Hogwarts. Severus chanced a glance at the one place that had been his home. He was on the run now, jobless and at one point the thought might of scared him, but Severus knew it was the right decision.

He turned to the doe that had been watching him, waiting for orders to do something and nodded. As the doe started to disappear, he thought he caught Lily's sweet voice saying, 'Thank-you!' He shook his head and muttered the password so the gates would let them leave. The last thing Severus saw as he closed the gate behind him and apparated was the light of the entrance hall door as it opened.

A/N: Thank-you to everyone who has stuck by me, Harry and Snape as they try to get use to the idea of being father and son. I apologize for not updating sooner, but time waits for no one. I hope I will be able to update more often after my exams which end on Wednesday.

Until next time readers, Severus Snape Admirer

p.s. let me know how this chapter went by dropping a review. Thanxs.