kbinnz - Harry's New Home

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*Chapter 32*: Chapter 32

Harry and his professor found the others in the trophy room. Harry rather ostentatiously joined the group, making sure that everyone saw that Professor Snape was with him. "Sorry, Professor," he said to McGonagall. "My guardian needed to talk to me. That's why we're a little late joinin' you an' the other parents." He felt as if his chest would burst from happiness тАУ this more than made up for never having anyone to sit with him on any of the "parents' nights" at his school in Surrey.

Minerva McGonagall fought down her own smile. Good heavens, this would never do. Severus wasn't the only one with a reputation to uphold. Yet, the pride and happiness on Harry's face as he oh-so-casually held onto Snape's hand were impossible to miss. Nor was she oblivious to the fact that, for all his studied nonchalance, Snape was making no effort to wrest free of the boy's grasp.

Arthur and Molly noticed and nudged each other, as did Ron and Hermione. Only the Grangers didn't realize anything was up, but they were still adjusting to wandering ghosts and talking portraits.

As the tour made its way through the castle, Ron managed to get Harry on his own. "Are you okay, mate? Did heтАж y'know?" Ron mimed a whack, and Harry nodded sheepishly. "Ouch! I'm sorry, mate. You shouldn't've been the only one to catch it."

"It was my idea," Harry pointed out, "an' besides, you had a concussion. It wouldn't be right for you to get walloped on top of that."

"Well, it's not my head that would get it," Ron pointed out dryly, "but I won't argue with you. Did he go spare?"

"He was pretty upset," Harry admitted. "I've got a week of detention and a set of lines, but considering what we did, it could've been a lot worse."

"Yeah! And at least he punished you himself and didn't leave you to the Headmaster!"

Harry shuddered. The Headmaster would probably have shipped him back to the Dursleys if his professor hadn't been there.

Then another thought struck Ron. "Blimey, Harry, you'd better stay away from Hermione's folks after what you had for breakfast. Didn't you figure out who they were before you got your food?"

Harry stared at him in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

The pureblooded boy paled and leaned close to whisper, "They're dentists! An' you ate one of those pastries! You better watch out that they don't catch you an' drill holes in your teeth."

Harry fought down his giggles. That was why Ron had been so polite all morning? Because he was scared witless?

Mrs Granger turned to Professor Snape. "I gather that the children got mixed up in something very dangerous. Do you think it's safe for them to remain here? I must admit we're considering taking Hermione home with us and finding another option for her. I mean, it's one thing for her to go away to school, but if there's danger hereтАж" She looked at him in appeal. "This is all so new to us. We want to do the right thing, but we certainly don't want to risk our little girl. I can see you feel similarly about your Harry тАУ what do you plan to do?"

Snape nearly choked. HIS Harry? Obviously the Muggle was truly confused. "I believe that your daughter will be safe if she remains here. Yesterday's events wereтАжimpossible to foresee."

Mrs Granger sighed. "I hope so. Hermione doesn't want to leave. For the first time she has friends as well as good gradesтАж And I have been very impressed with how well-mannered and respectful the children are here. Though they do seem a bit high-strung, especially young Ron over there."

As they spoke, the bell for classes rang, and students spilled out into the hallway. As usual, they dodged around the Potions Master, but they were less careful about the other adults. That is, until they caught sight of Hermione holding her father's hand, and realized who the tall man must be. Immediately, most of the students тАУ particularly purebloods тАУ blanched and stiffened to attention. "Hello, Hermione. Hello, sir," they gulped, flattening themselves against the wall to give the Grangers a wide berth.

"See what I mean?" Mrs Granger whispered to Snape. "I've never seen anything like it! Such courtesy!"

"Hi, Draco!" Harry caught sight of the blond, who was trying to hide behind Flint. "Want to join us?"

"No, no!" Draco shook his head vehemently, then paled as Mrs Granger looked at him curiously. He quickly blurted, "Thank you though," and added a bow for good measure, as did an equally nervous Flint.

Snape had heard the Dentist Story тАУ having had to reassure several of his younger Snakes that he would never, ever permit Granger or her parents anywhere near their teeth тАУ but felt that explaining the matter would do little for Muggle-Wizard relations. "Yes, we place a high value on etiquette here at Hogwarts," he said blandly. "And I think you'll find the Wizarding world somewhat more formal than the Muggle one," he added as a trembling Millicent Bulstrode dropped a quick curtsy as they passed her.

"What a sweet little girl!" Mrs Granger cried, and bulky Millicent nearly wet herself in relief. "You and the other faculty must be accustomed to such shows of respect, but I don't think I've ever seen anything like it," she explained to Snape.

"No, I wouldn't say I'm used to it," Snape remarked, watching as three Ravenclaws fought to be the one to open the doors to the Great Hall for the party.

The only crisis at lunch came when the house elves discovered the pudding course had been relatively untouched. But by then the Weasleys and Grangers had departed, with many hugs and kisses and instructions to write home, and the Trio had been sent back to rejoin their classes.

There, they had to tell their story over and over for their awestruck peers. Everyone was both amazed to hear what had become of their DADA instructor and delighted that Quirrell would not be returning to teach them. Even those who came from Death Eater families were pleased to be rid of an unpopular and incompetent professor, so the Trio received nothing but praise and gratitude for their actions.

Harry's fame among the student body only increased when, later that night, he was discovered in the Gryffindor Common Room writing "I will not prank Dark Lords" 200 times. Sure, lines were a common punishment, but those lines?

Over the next week, the rest of Harry's detention passed as pleasurably as he had hoped. The books his guardian assigned him were fascinating, and Snape did a wonderful (if acerbic) job of explaining the complex topics. Harry began to see how lucky he'd been in the infirmary and why half-baked plans were so dangerous to all involved. The lessons dovetailed nicely with the dueling strategy that Professor Flitwick was beginning to describe during their time together, and it was surprisingly easy for the contented eleven year old to put the events with Professor Quirrell firmly behind him.

Snape was less happy. Though he couldn't fault the brat's behavior, he was becoming increasingly apprehensive about Black. The mutt had done everything Snape had instructed and, to the Potion Master's resignation and dismay, everything was working out exactly as he had intended.

Sirius had shown the world press copies of his pensieved memories, as well as sending them to Madame Bones. After that, there was no way for the Ministry to pretend Black was guilty, and Fudge ordered his staff to do whatever it took to shut Black up and make him go away.

Snape, Black, and Lupin put their heads together and soon thereafter, a growling Fudge publicly apologized for the wrongs done to Sirius Black. A hefty pay-out accompanied the apology, as did a full pardon for Black and all (unnamed) associates regarding his escape from Azkaban. Although Bones, Moody and the other Aurors were dying to know how their former colleague had managed to sneak off the island, an explanation was not part of the deal, and they all (even Moody) felt so ashamed of themselves for believing the worst about Sirius, that they couldn't bring themselves to ask him.