Severus,
I wanted to let you know that I have enrolled in multiple summer courses in muggle psychology at the University of London.
Thank you again for this opportunity.
I will update you on my progress.
-R. Lupin
***
"Severus? Are you home?"
Severus quietly cursed at the chime of the floo and the sound of Amelia Bones' voice carrying through to his office.
"Coming," he called curtly. He listened carefully and was relieved to hear the shower shut off, indicating Potter had finished washing off proof of the crime he undoubtedly committed early this morning. Severus had been anticipating a floo call the moment he realized Potter was covered in ash.
"Madame Bones, how can I help you?" he asked as he ducked down in front of the floo.
"Severus is Theodore Nott Junior at your home?" Amelia asked curtly.
"He is," Severus confirmed slowly, wondering why the Head of the DMLE was looking for the quiet, softly spoken, intelligent Slytherin boy currently upstairs with Potter.
Surely Potter would inform me before he brought a fugitive in to our home?
Probably not.
Potter could be heinously inconsiderate at times.
"Thank Merlin," Amelia sighed, closing her eyes momentarily with apparent relief. "May I come through? I need to speak with Theodore. I'll also have to bring Aurors Shacklebolt and Tonks with me."
Severus hesitated, unsure on the protocol for allowing aurors to speak with a minor child in his home.
"Is Theodore in trouble?" he asked.
"I hope not," Amelia said truthfully. "But it is important we speak with him and I think he'd rather us do it at your house than our office."
"If you must," Severus said slowly, backing away from the floo to allow entrance.
After only a short moment Amelia, Shacklebolt, and Nymphadora Tonks stepped through.
"Can you call for Theodore please?" Amelia asked.
"Theodore," Severus called up the stairs. "Your presence is being requested in the sitting room."
Hopefully if Theodore is a current fugitive, he will interpret Severus' words correctly and make a run for it.
Severus returned to the sitting room and eyed the grim faced aurors carefully.
"Amy! How are you?"
Severus was torn between relief and exasperation to see Potter step in the sitting room, trailed closely by a pale faced and red eyed Theodore.
Which, was rather suspicious.
As was the way Potter was clenching his left fist as he politely shook hands with Shacklebolt and Tonks with his right.
Potter hates law enforcement almost as much as Potter hates hand shakes and other casual physical touches that do not come from Bones, Lovegood, or now Weasley.
"Tonks, I've got a funny story to tell you later," Potter grinned.
Severus was suddenly aware that Potter looked remarkably like Lucius does when he is playing politician.
"Harry, I'm afraid this isn't a social call. We need to talk with your friend." Despite her clear dismissal, Amelia smiled warmly at Potter, taking any possible sting out of her words.
"Theo?" Potter asked, faux-surprise coating his voice as he very subtly shifted, guarding Theodore behind his back. "Why?"
"I'm afraid it's official business," Shacklebolt said, his narrowed eyes indicating he also did not miss the way Potter moved to hide his friend.
For fucks sake Potter, what have the two of you done?
"Gentlemen, if we could have some privacy?" Amelia said.
"I believe I should stay," Severus said carefully but firmly. "Theodore is a minor and I would like to remain present for any official conversation as my role of his Head of House when he is at Hogwarts."
Amelia nodded at Severus with a brief look of approval before turning to Potter.
"Harry, I'll see you later okay?"
"He can stay," Theodore blurted out. "If Snape can stay, then so can Harry."
Potter's eyes flashed with what seemed to be... smugness? excitement?... Severus could not quite figure it out before he nodded solemnly.
"If you're sure," he said, backing up to stand shoulder to shoulder with Theodore.
"Theodore I'm afraid I have some bad news," Amelia said softly. "Your father was found a few minutes ago, I'm sorry. He's gone."
Severus was watching Potter's face carefully and saw as he went carefully guarded at the news before turning a striken (fake) expression to Theodore.
"Oh," Theodore said blankly. "Are you sure?"
Severus may have no idea what was happening, but he swore in that moment that he would hold acting courses for every student associated with Harry Potter at some point in the future.
"Yes," Amelia said just as gently. "His body was found in the middle of your manor. Law Enforcement was dispatched this morning to the presence of fiendfire. They weren't able to retrieve his body until the flames burnt themselves out. I'm so sorry."
Flames.
Fiendfire.
Fucking Potter.
"Thats... I don't know what to say..." Theodore said, his voice sounding as blank as his face was.
"I hate to ask you this, but were you here all night?" Amelia asked as Tonks pulled a notepad and a quill from her pocket.
"Yes," Theodore said quietly. "I've been here since we got back from school."
"Has he?" Shacklebolt asked Severus.
"He has," Severus confirmed honestly. Theodore had tossed and turned on his sofa all night last night. It was God damned Harry Potter who was absent this morning.
"And Harry? Have you been home as well?" Shacklebolt asked.
"Why are you asking them these questions?" Severus cut in sharply before his ward could answer. "Are they being accused of something?"
"Nott Senior was murdered," Tonks said bluntly. "He didn't cast the fiendfire."
Of course not. Because Harry fucking Potter did.
"And you were able to determine this how?" he asked.
"Because our team was able to determine that Nott Senior's veins were vanished before the fiendfire was cast," Shacklebolt said, his dark eyes glued to Potter. "Which means that someone killed him then set the manor aflame."
And Shacklebolt had apparently already decided who that someone was. Which was quite a leap.
Even if Severus was sure it was true.
"And there was residual magic indicating that someone apparated away from the scene," Tonks added.
"And you made the jump to blame Nott's own son and Harry Potter?" Severus scoffed. "That seems hardly believable."
"The spells indicated that it was a male, aged 11-16, that was last in the home before fiendfire was cast," Shacklebolt said slowly. "In a home that required a password to get past the main gates."
Which meant that they immediately guessed Theodore or one of his male acquaintances who was still underage. This was hardly a leap, this was narrowed down specifically.
"That's horrible," Potter sighed, still standing beside Theodore. "But Theo wasn't there and neither was I."
"This can be cleared up easily," Amelia said. "Theodore we need to check your wand please."
"Yes ma'am," Theodore said dutifully as he handed Shacklebolt his wand.
"Prior Incantato." Shacklebolt touched his wand to Theodore's and they all watched as two levitation spells were revealed, followed by two charms, before Shacklebolt ended the spell.
"I believe Flitwick will be more than happy to inform you that those charms were part of the third years final exam," Severus said curtly. "Shall I call him?" he raised his brow challengingly at Shacklebolt.
"No," the other man said, handing Theodore back his wand immediately. "Our sincerest apologies Mister Nott."
"Severus, do we have your permission to cast Priori Incantatem on Harry's wand?" Amelia asked.
Potter's left pinky twitched, just slightly, and Severus felt an overwhelming wave of gratitude wash over him at the signal.
"Of course," he said, maintaining the cold tone of a guardian whose ward was being wrongfully interrogated for murder.
Shacklebolt reached out for Potters wand and Potter looked balefully at him before handing it to Amelia.
"Prior Incantato," she murmured, touching her wand to Potter's.
Four mist like shields tied together rose from Potter's wand, the ghostly figure indicating what his last spell had been.
"A multiplicity shield?" Tonks asked with her pink brows high on her forehead. "There are aurors who can't do that!"
Potter shrugged and they all watched as his wand puffed out a disarming spell, followed by a levitation spell.
"That's it?" Tonks cried as the wand quit emitting images. "How can his wand only have three spells recorded on it?"
Severus said nothing, waiting, and hoping for the aurors to draw the incorrect conclusions.
"Harry... you don't use your wand, do you?" Amelia asked slowly.
God damned son of a bitch, Severus cursed in his mind as Potter blinked at Amelia.
"I don't," he said politely. "I'm sorry. I didn't know I'd need to be defended for using wandless magic. Maybe I should call Mister Malfoy?" Potter gave Severus a long and hesitant look, which was quite masterfully done. As was the threat to call his Barrister whose name carried nearly as much weight as Potter's own did within the Ministry.
"Severus, can you confirm that Harry has been home since the train arrived in London yesterday?" Amelia asked Severus.
"I can," Severus lied. "Theodore and Harry have both been here since three o'clock yesterday afternoon where they floo'd directly from the train platform."
"Theodore, do you know anyone who matches our description that would want to hurt you father?"
"No ma'am," Theodore answered Amelia quietly. "It doesn't make any sense."
Amelia nodded down at him and gently put her hand on her shoulder.
"Do you have family we can call? Someone to stay with?"
"He can stay here," Potter said immediately. "We don't mind."
The larger bedroom.
The extra bed.
The need to go purchase additional furniture.
This was not 'my life was in danger and I reacted quickly and killed them', this was premeditated.
Nott Senior was a particularly cruel and devout Death Eater, but Potter plotting his death? This was perhaps one of the cruelest acts Severus has learnt of his ward committing.
"Severus? Would you be willing to sign on as a temporary caretaker for Theodore until we check and see if we can find any family?"
"Of course," Severus agreed quickly, clearing his mind of Potter's nonsensical actions. "Theodore is an excellent student and he is welcome to stay as long as he needs."
"Alright," Amelia smiled softly at Theodore. "Reach out to me if you need anything at all, okay? And if you think of anything that might help our investigation, get ahold of me. Alright?"
"Yes ma'am," Theodore said softly.
Severus gave the Amelia and her aurors stiff nods and waited until they were safely through the floo.
"Theodore, upstairs," he hissed through his clenched teeth. "I need to speak with Potter."
"Go," Potter nodded towards the stairs and turned to face Severus defiantly.
"Muffliato." Severus waved his wand and placed his own spell around them as he and Potter glared fiercely at each other.
"Have you lost your god damned mind?" Severus eventually hissed. "You killed a man Potter!"
"Four," Potter said casually, his arms crossed and his fists tucked beneath them. "Killed four men now, haven't I?"
Severus stared at Potter, flabbergasted at his devil may care tone and was suddenly reminded of something the Muggle Mind Healer told Severus in an appointment.
'I do think that Harry confessed to killing two men, not including the one you told me of. If these are true then Harry has actually become Britain's youngest serial killer.'
For the love of God. How did this become Severus' life?
"I will give you sixty seconds to tell me why you killed your friends father before I-"
"Before you what?" Potter sneered. "Call me 'Potter' some more and turn me in to the Aurors. Go ahead. 'M sure they won't mind that you lied to them about me being home all night."
"Why would you make your friend in to an orphan?" Severus asked, switching tactics quickly as he realized he had no ammunition to threaten the child with.
"Can't tell you."
"YOU CAN AND YOU WILL!" Severus yelled, losing himself in the face of Potter's indifference to a Merlin damned murder investigation.
"Made a vow, and its unbreakable," Potter drawled arrogantly. "So no, I can't."
"Do you not care at all that you took away Theodore's father?" Severus asked.
"Nope," Potter popped the 'p' sound irritably. "Taking Theo away from his Dad was my whole plan, wasn't it?"
That... was oddly worded.
Not, 'took Theo's father away from Theo'.
But, 'took Theo away from his father'.
Not as if he were taking something from Theodore, but was saving the boy from something instead.
"You believed that killing Nott saved Theodore in some way?" Severus guessed shrewdly.
Potter quirked one of his dark brows at Severus but remained stubbornly silent.
"Which you cannot confirm because someone, Theodore?, made you vow to not speak of..."
Severus stared hard at Potter as he tried to fit the pieces together. Theodore was already distressed before he was informed of his fathers death, which meant that he was already aware. But he had not known where Potter was this morning, Severus was sure of that. So Potter told him he had killed his father when they went upstairs.
And Theodore had not turned Potter in for it.
"Did Theodore ask you to kill his father?"
"Nope."
"You offered?"
Potters silence was as much as a confirmation as Severus needed.
"Why would you offer to kill your friends father?" Severus asked slowly.
"Can't tell you," Potter enunciated slowly. "Unless you want me to die right now."
The reasoning was protected by the vow.
"Do you have any idea how foolhardy and reckless that was?" Severus said instead, deciding the reasoning could be deduced later. "Harry they would have arrested you had I not vouched for you."
"Good thing you did then," Potter said flippantly. "Cause it took me ages to plan and it would have fucked everything up if they arrested me. Plus I have more plans today and it might have taken a few hours for Malfoy to help me get back out."
"Go," Severus said abruptly. "Get out of my sight. Immediately."
Potter scoffed, apparently insulted by Severus' exhaustion, and turned on his heel and stomped up the staircase.
Severus himself stormed to his office and slammed the door, hoping the message was clear to not bother him.
After only a few minutes of Severus throwing books and other items off his shelves to curb his anger there was curt knock on his door.
"We're leaving," Potter called shortly. "We'll be back in a couple hours."
"Do try and not kill anyone," Severus drawled coldly towards the doorway.
Potter's response had been muffled through the door, but Severus was certain it was 'fuck you'.
Which was rich of the child. Potter killed a man in cold blood this morning and yet it was 'fuck you' when Severus warned him to not do so again?
Potter was a menace.
An actual God damned menace to society and Severus had no idea where he had gone so wrong.
He easily overlooked the previous deaths at Potter's hands. Those men had deserved a much harsher end than Potter himself had dealt them. But this? This was madness.
Even the Dark Lord had supposedly not killed a single person until Myrtle Warren in his sixth year at Hogwarts.
And Potter had a body count of four before he reached fourteen.
When Potter and Theodore returned from their shopping trip-
a fucking shopping trip after being interrogated for murder.
-Severus spent the afternoon avoiding the teens and coldly ignoring Potter when they did interact.
"Are you seriously not talking to me?" Potter demanded at lunch after a silent eight minutes had passed.
"Are you prepared to explain the events of this morning to me?" Severus asked coolly as he kept his eyes indifferently glued to the book he was reading.
"I told you I can't!" Potter yelled, slamming his fork down. "You're being an arse!"
"Harry-"
"No Theo, it's fine. Let's just take this stuff upstairs, yeah?"
Severus remained silent as the two boys gathered their plates and cups and Potter sneered in his direction before they ascended to Potter's room where they remained the rest of the day.
Severus maintained a hazy sense of exhaustion, along with a painfully dull constant headache, throughout the rest of his own day. He only remained awake, and on pins and needles, because he expected the DMLE to arrive with an order for Potter's arrest any moment.
Mavis informed Severus that night that 'Master Potter and Master Potter's friend Theo' were eating dinner in their bedroom. Severus nodded with relief and, roughly ten minutes in to his own peacefully silent meal, he felt his wand heat up, indicating that Potter had taken his medication as scheduled.
Which was something, Severus supposed. He had seen Potter take his medication at dinner last night, and breakfast when he returned this morning. So at least if Potter was determined to be the type of person who plotted and carried out murders, then he would do so with a head clear of the turmoil from his mental illness.
Except... Except Severus was constantly reminded of a small note written in the Mind Healer's notebook;
'Due to his indifference to violence or loss of life- H will likely be a prime candidate for a psychopathy diagnosis at 18.'
Severus knew that Manic-Depressive Illness could be treated. Psychopathy could not.
And Severus strongly suspected that the muggle had called it accurately.
The next few days had progressed much as the same. Potter and Theodore made an appearance at breakfast, where Severus was minutely pleased to see Potter quickly swallow down his medication, and then the two of them disappeared upstairs for a couple of hours.
They had eventually stopped by either Severus' office or the sitting room- wherever Severus had set up for the day and informed him they were leaving to visit their friends. Severus coldly nodded his head in silent acknowledgment.
When they returned, via floo, without fail, Potter would glance at him hopefully, before quickly sneering at Severus' icy demeanor and stomping up the stairs, followed closely by a quiet Theodore.
Severus was seated in the sitting room one evening, staring in to the fire, wondering if Potter was even redeemable or not, when Remus Lupin's face suddenly appeared.
"Oh! Merlin! Sorry Severus," Lupin said with a friendly smile. "I didn't expect you to be sitting there."
"What do you want Lupin?" Severus asked, too tired for small talk at the moment.
Lupin looked mildly taken aback before blazing ahead with his question.
"I just wanted to ask you about a thing that I read in one on my classes-"
"Not today Wolf," Severus interrupted once he gained enough information to deem it currently unimportant. "It has been a long week and I am exhausted. Can we discuss the matter some other time?"
"Of course," Lupin agreed quickly, a worried frown on his face. "Is everything alright?"
"Theodore's father was killed earlier this week and Theodore is staying with us for a while," Severus said baldly, not quite lying about the source of his exhaustion.
"Oh."
Severus narrowed his eyes at the look on Lupin's face.
"Oh?" he repeated slowly. "Do you know something about it?"
"Of course not," Lupin said quickly. "It's just that... well, is Theo alright?"
"He is safe," Severus said.
"I meant, is he upset?"
Which was a rather queer question to ask.
"Why would Theodore not be upset to find out his father was killed?" Severus asked him.
Theodore had not seemed distressed during the brief times when Severus saw him at lunch or before he left with Potter, but as Severus believed he had somehow helped plot the murder of his father, that was to be expected. Lupin had no reason to suspect this at all though as far as Severus was aware.
"Well... I mean, I don't want to speak ill of the man or anything, and I don't have any proof, but..."
"But what?" Severus snapped, fed up with Lupin's hesitant speech. "Speak Lupin. What do you know?"
"Theo's boggart is his father," Lupin said quietly. "I told Albus that I think he's abusing Theo. Or... was, I suppose. Was abusing Theo."
That. That was the missing piece to the puzzle.
Theodore told Potter his father was abusive and made Potter vow to not tell anyone. Potter then must have offered to kill the man. And Theodore must have accepted.
"I have to go," Severus said curtly. "I will speak with you later about your courses."
"Okay, well tell Theo-"
Severus ended the floo call in the middle of whatever emotion driven drivel Lupin was about to share. He slumped down in his seat and buried his hands in his hair as he berated himself.
He had failed Theodore and Potter both.
His diagnostics on Theodore in the child's first year had not shown any prior abuse, but that was not rare for children of talented users of dark magic. In those cases Severus simply looked for any behavioral indicators of abuse.
The fact that Theodore had not shown any said quite a bit about the child's ability to disassociate from the abuse.
Which meant it was likely rather severe.
And Potter...
Severus had spent the entire week treating Potter coldly when they interacted and thinking the worst of his ward.
And Potter had learned that his friend was being abused by his father, was under a vow not to inform anyone, and had simply taken the matter in to his own hands at Theodore's request.
-A child rapist.
-A Voldemort possessed madman.
-A man with a sword to Potter's throat.
-And a child abuser.
Potter was not some cold hearted killer, racking up a body count.
He was a traumatized survivor who worked yesterday morning in defense of his friend.
And Severus had treated him terribly for it.
Well.
He'll just have to make it up to him. Potter and Theodore both.
Severus thought about it as he sat quietly, occasionally hearing floorboards squeaking above his head, when he had the perfect idea for the two grey oriented boys that was stored in his private library in his bedroom right at this moment.
"Mavis, kindly ask Harry and Theodore to join us for dinner," Severus said when he grabbed his apology gift and entered the kitchen.
"Oh, is Mister Snoop done being mean to my poor Master Potter?" Mavis asked with deceptively wide eyes. "Mavis was thinking maybe Snoop wanted to upset Master some more instead."
"I am not wanting to upset Harry in any way," Severus said tightly, unaccustomed to explaining himself to an elf. "Please inform the boys I would like them both to eat in the kitchen tonight."
Mavis grumbled something no doubt unflattering under his breath before obediently going to fetch the boys.
When the two boys entered the kitchen, both looking around carefully as they settled on to the edge of their seats, Severus attempted to make amends.
"Theodore, it has been remiss of me not to ask after you. How are you?"
Theodore looked startled at Severus' neutral tone and sent a subtle look Potter's way before responding just as neutrally.
"I'm a little shook up, but I'm okay. Thank you for asking," he said in what sounded to be a rehearsed answer.
Severus nodded before breathing deeply and turning his attention to Potter, who appeared to be prepared for anything but neutrality.
"Harry, I apologize."
"What?" Potter seemed startled by Severus' apology and his eyes flicked around the room quickly as he laid his palms flat on the table. "What are you apologizing for?" he asked warily.
"I have been incredibly unfair and rude towards you the last two days and for that I apologize."
Potter squinted at him as he tilted his head in the odd way that Severus begrudgingly finds amusing.
"Even though I can't tell you what happened, or why?" he asked.
"I should have shown my trust in you that there was a reasonable explanation for your actions and not demanded an answer in order to treat you with the civility that you deserve," Severus said.
The two of them stared at one another for a few long moments before Potter eventually broke his gaze and shrugged.
"I knew you didn't trust me," he muttered. "Even though I tried to tell you that I really can't tell you what happened."
Severus glanced towards Theodore who shifted uneasily on his seat before looking back at Potter.
"I do trust you," Severus insisted. "I made a mistake, and I hope that you can forgive me and we can put it behind us."
"Are you going to do it again?" Potter asked predictably.
"Will I react badly the next time you come home smelling like fire and are immediately interrogated by the DMLE for murder? Probably," Severus admitted. "I wish that you had came to me first, as would have been appropriate. Especially as you risked your life, and freedom, again. But that is no excuse for my actions, hence the apology. And since I cannot falsely promise not to react badly in the future, I have instead gotten you a consolation prize in exchange for the truth that I am only human and will make many mistakes when it comes to my own behavior."
"What consolation prize?" Potter asked, an interested light in his eyes.
Severus smirked as he pulled out the book in his robes and offered it to the boys.
"This is an incredibly old, and rare, book of blood based defensive and offensive spells."
"Woah," Theodore gasped, his brown eyes wide as he stared at the book Severus slid towards them. "I-I don't even think this is legal."
"It is not, so I would prefer it remain here when we return to the school," Severus confirmed, watching Potter carefully as the child examined his blatant bribe. Potter flipped through the pages and his eyes widened eagerly as he pointed a page out to Theodore.
"I accept your apology and I will probably forgive you eventually," Potter said, the edge of his lips curled up in to a small grin.
"Thank you," Severus said genuinely. He had no idea if Potter truly would forgive him for his actions, but hoped that they would at least put the matter to rest for the summer.
The three of them ate dinner in a much friendlier atmosphere than they had experienced so far this summer. Severus asked about the boys' summer homework and Potter scowled as Theodore explained his complex studying schedule he was trying to force Potter to follow. Severus even, in an act of pure penance, listened to Potter extensively describe the teams for the upcoming Quidditch World Cup.
"You'll see what I mean about Krum's tactics when we're there," Potter eventually said as they finished eating.
"When we are where?" Severus asked with a curious glance towards a heavily sighing Theodore.
"The Quidditch World Cup," Potter blinked at him. "I've got tickets for the Top Box."
"The Minister of Magic sent Harry twelve tickets to the Top Box," Theodore said with an exasperated look towards Potter.
"Minister Fudge believes Harry is 'as good as a son to him'," Severus said drily, recalling the man's words as he twisted his bowler hat anxiously in Potter's hospital room at St Mungo's.
Which Severus did not believe. What Severus believed was true was that the Minister simply enjoyed being on a first name basis with the Boy-Who-Lived.
"Yeah, he likes me," Potter smirked. "Even got me a good camping spot for two nights for the new tents Theo and I bought. But Blaise isn't coming because he said he's not leaving Spain or the women there until he's drug kicking and screaming back to school. Draco told us yesterday his family got tickets of their own. And Fred, Ron, and George are going with their family because someone owed their Dad a favor and got them all tickets to the Top Box. Soo, I've got five extra tickets. But I already got one for you originally, don't worry," Potter said hastily. "I was thinking I'd give one to Susan's aunt and one to Black, but I dunno what to do with the other three."
"The other four," Severus corrected him. "As there is nothing in this world which would make me wish to spend two nights camping with a group of teenagers and watching a Quidditch match. Though I do recommend sending an additional ticket to Lupin, as he does live with your godfather."
Potter blinked at him in surprised.
"You're not gonna come? But... I got you your own tent because I figured you wouldn't want to share with anyone else.
Apparently there was something that could cause Severus to attend a three day Quidditch event.
Guilt.
"You purchased a tent solely for me to use during your recent shopping trip?" Severus asked.
"He did," Theo said lightly, his brown eyes hardening momentarily.
"Despite my atrocious behavior towards you?" Severus asked Potter.
"I figured you'd get over it quick," Potter shrugged. "And the tents were selling out fast. I probably wouldn't have been able to get three of them if it weren't for the fact I signed an autograph for the shopkeeper."
"That... that was quite kind of you," Severus said. "Thank you Harry. I suppose I will suffer through the event in that case."
"Brill," Potter grinned at him and Severus felt the knot of guilt in his stomach lessening slightly. "It'll be great, just wait."
Severus privately did not believe it would be great. It sounded as if though there would be an entire hoard of loud and excited students seated together in the Top Box, alongside high ranking Ministry officials. It sounded terrible.
But Potter was excited. And he'd bought Severus his own tent despite Severus treating him harshly. So he would go.
Severus was enjoying a nightcap after the boys went to bed that night when Theodore came back downstairs quietly.
"Good," he said when he spotted Severus in one of the chairs. "I'm glad you're awake."
"How can I help you?" Severus asked politely, still unaccustomed to having a teenager inside his home that was not Potter.
"I wanted to tell you something and then I won't bring it up again." Theodore drew himself to full height and looked Severus straight in the eyes. "What Harry may or may not have done that morning saved my life. If my father knew I had a muggleborn girlfriend then I would be dead," he said bluntly. "And you were a right git to Harry over it. Do you know what Harry said when we left for Diagon Alley that day? He said, 'Snape was supposed to say 'be safe brat',' and he looked like a kicked crup all day. Then he bought you that tent specially anyway and even paid extra for it to be black because he said it's your favorite color. I know you apologized, but I just wanted you to know what all exactly you did wrong."
Severus was struck silent at Theodore's impassioned speech.
Severus was a terrible guardian.
But apparently Theodore Nott, who looked much like the man he would grow to be in this moment, was quite the loyal friend.
"I do not know what to say," Severus said honestly. "I made a terrible mistake and I regret it horribly."
"I know that," Theodore said. "But just so you know that Harry looks up to you and respects you more than anyone. Which means that the things you say hurt him worse than what anyone else could say. And I think you're a good man who made a mistake, but maybe you should remember that for the future."
Severus nodded absently as Theodore curtly spun on his heel and returned up the stairs.
He picked his glass up and finished it off in one bitter swallow and allowed himself to become immersed in his freshly renewed guilt.
Though, over half a bottle later, as Severus laid in his bed he had an irksome thought.
How was it that Potter killed a man in cold blood and yet Severus had somehow managed to be the bad guy in this scenario?
***
Lupin,
I am pleased to hear that your studies are progressing rapidly. I am hoping to encourage Harry to spend a weekend at your home before his birthday. This would be an excellent time to try and build some rapport with him.
Do try and avoid making your relationship even worse if you are able. I would be displeased if my money towards your new career was wasted because you thoughtlessly caused Harry to curse you.
-S.S.