kbinnz - Harry's New Home

He spelled the lab stool into a more comfortable chair and settled the child on his lap. Merlin, if Albus or Minerva happened upon this scene, he'd never hear the end of it! Once the boy's tears had finally slowed, he poked the brat to get his attention. When the wet, green eyes met his own, he asked, "Harry, what do you think would happen if I had gone to your house and cast a glamour on you and your cousin, making each of you look like the other?"

Harry blinked in confusion. "Huh?"

"What would have happened? Would your aunt and uncle have accepted their son's behavior if it was done by someone with your face? Would they have been pleased with their son's apparently turning over a new leaf and leaving his bratty ways behind when you тАУ wearing your cousin's visage тАУ continued cooking and cleaning?"

"N-no. They probably would have killed Dudley when he acted his normal way an' they would've tried to get me to stop doing chores." Bewildered, Harry gazed at his da. Why was he asking such a silly question?

"Then don't you see, silly child?" Snape scolded. "Their treatment of you had nothing to do with how you acted. You did everything they asked of you and they still treated you badly. It had nothing to do with you. They were reacting to what they thought you were, not who you really are, and therefore nothing you could have done would have helped. The fault lies with their own disgusting natures, not with what you did or didn't do. They may have felt pressured to accept you into their home after your parents died, but that in no way excuses their treatment of you."

Harry sniffled. His da always explained everything so well. "It тАУ it wasn't my fault?" he whispered. "Not even when I did тАУ " he cast a nervous look upwards "- freaky stuff?"

Snape rolled his eyes. "Harry James Potter, that 'freaky stuff' was entirely out of your control, and punishing a child for things they cannot control is never justified. Do you understand me, young man?"

Harry nodded and burrowed against his father's chest.

"Good. Because the next time you suggest that it was your fault and not those horrible Muggles', you will owe me 100 lines of 'I do not control other people.'"

Despite himself, Harry giggled. "That sounds like something ol' Voldesnort should write."

Snape quirked his eyebrow. "Shall we make it 'I am not responsible for other people's abysmal behavior?"

Harry pouted. "No! That's longer!"

Sitting the boy up, Snape conjured a warm flannel and wiped Harry's face free of snot and tears, despite the boy's loud protests. "Back to work with you, Mr Potter. I believe I said ground yew berries, not powdered. You will remain at this work bench until you do as you are told."

"Daaaaaaa," Harry groaned. "I'm hungry! It's already been like four hours! Isn't it time for dinner yet?"

"It's been more like forty minutes, you impossible brat, and as I recall it was you who disturbed me with your tales of deranged house elves. Finish the yew berries and you may have a snack."

There were no further visits from house elves, insane or otherwise, over the next twenty-four hours, and then the rest of the student body returned to Hogwarts. Harry was at the front door to greet his friends. "Harry!" Ron yelled as if they hadn't seen each other in months, grabbing the dark haired boy and pummeling him in excitement.

"How was Switzerland?" Hermione asked Harry, impatiently pushing Ron away.

"Wicked! Sirius took me everywhere, and Moony an' I saw that movie you told us about, and тАУ"

"Oi, Harry!" Seamus and Dean greeted him with a couple of whacks on the shoulder. "Gonna do any flying in the Great Hall tonight?"

Harry grinned. "Nah. But I get to go back to living in the Tower with you guys!"

"That's great!" Dean exclaimed.

"Oi, where's Draco?" Harry asked, looking for the blond.

"We don't know," Neville replied worriedly, approaching with Crabbe and Goyle alongside. "Have you heard from him since Featherbee's? We looked but couldn't find him on the train"

"That's because my father came to see the Headmaster and brought me with him," Draco explained, sauntering up. "There was no reason to go on the train with all the riff-raff," he added, giving Ron a disdainful look.

"Oh yeah?" Ron demanded.

"Yeah!" Draco retorted, and Hermione rolled her eyes as the two fell joyously into a shoving match.

"Draco! You'll tear your robes!" Pansy Parkinson screeched, hurrying up and pulling the Slytherin away from Ron.

Draco gave her an unfriendly glance as his roughhousing was so rudely interrupted. "Who asked you, Pansy?" he snapped.

"Ooooh, Draco's got a girlfriend!" Ron sang out happily.

"Shut it!" Draco snapped, shoving Ron again. But before hostilities (however eagerly anticipated by their participants) could again break out, Hermione snapped her fingers at Goyle and Crabbe, and the two behemoths obligingly stepped between the would-be combatants.

"I don't want to be late for the Welcoming Feast," she told the boys sharply.

Draco glared, affronted, but Ron was, as usual, happily distracted by the prospect of food. "Okay," he said agreeably.

"So what did you do for New Year's, Draco?" Harry asked as they entered the Great Hall. Most of the other students were still exchanging greetings or settling their familiars, so they were the first into the large chamber.

"The Malfoys had a big masquerade ball," Pansy interrupted quickly. "All the best people were there," she said pointedly, looking around at the Gryffindors.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Yeah, and my father made me dance with her," he told Harry in tones of utter disgust. Even Ron looked sympathetic. "I've had nightmares for weeks."

Pansy huffed in outrage. "I'm telling your father! We'll see what he thinks of your manners!"

"So tell," Draco snapped. "But then I'll tell Professor Snape that you got a Housemate in trouble."

Pansy paled at the thought of their Head's reaction to this violation of the Slytherin code. "Fine. See if I care," she managed to snap, then flounced away.

Draco stuck his tongue out at her departing back, and Ron and the other boys laughed loudly.

Hermione, after a moment of indecision, hurried after Pansy. She certainly didn't like the girl, but there were times when some sort of sisterly support was needed, and she was certain that Pansy had heard and been hurt by the boys' unkind laughter.

"Pansy, wait!" she called. "Are you okay? Boys are just so immature," she offered consolingly, reaching the other girl's side.

"They don't bother me in the least," Pansy said stiffly, though her trembling lip suggested otherwise. "Who cares about some stupid boys?"

"I bet you had a really nice dress for the ball," Hermione prompted, and the Slytherin's face lit up.

"Ooooh, yes! It was green and тАУ what's that?" Pansy said, her eye abruptly caught by an object on the nearby table.

Hermione looked on as Pansy snatched up the book. "It looks like someone's diary," she answered. "They probably put it down and forgot it when they saw a friend arrive. Give it to me."

Pansy's face darkened suspiciously, and she hugged the book to her chest. "Why should I?" she demanded.

Patiently Hermione pointed to the banner just behind the table. "This is the Gryffindor table. It probably belongs to someone in my House. I'll give it to Professor McGonagall."

"This isn't the Gryffindor table anymore," Pansy retorted. "Just because it's closest to the Gryffindor banner doesn't mean anything. People sit wherever they want now."

"Well, yes," Hermion was forced to admit the truth in the other girl's words. "But it's still more likely to belong тАУ"

"No, it's not! You just want it because you're bossy and want to claim any reward! Well, you can't have it. I found it, and I'm keeping it. If someone in your House reports a lost book, then you just have your Head of House talk to my Head of House!" Pansy snapped, spinning away and stalking out of the Hall.