He took advantage of it," the boy said, thoughtfully.
Though he would not usually take kindly to such a suggestion, Snape inclined his head, vaguely impressed by the child's insight. "Very astute. This was, by and large, how the Dark Lord operated. It is not an excuse, you understand. Simply… my attempt at offering you an explanation as to how it came to be."
"But… you didn't stay one of… one of them, did you?" Harry pressed.
Snape shook his head. "In very little time at all, my stupidity became apparent, even to me. I regretted the choices I had made… bitterly regretted them. It was Professor Dumbledore who offered me a… lifeline, so to speak."
"Did you spy for him?"
"I certainly worked for him in a capacity outside of a potions professor," his guardian agreed. "I was able to provide the headmaster and those fighting to remove the Dark Lord from power with information to help the cause, and continued to do so long after his… disappearance."
Harry absorbed the information for a moment then, before a look of realisation spread across his face.
"But… if you're… if you're my guardian, and he comes back… how will you….? I mean, you wouldn't be able to spy, would you? Or would I have to go some place else? What if–"
Snape held up a hand to quieten the boy. "I can assure you that the latter is the least likely scenario."
Harry seemed to relax a little, though still looked perplexed. "So you wouldn't be a spy anymore?"
"You realise, of course, that this is purely hypothetical?" Snape pointed out, hoping he was right. "And is not something that you need worry yourself with."
Harry watched him for a moment, as if gauging the truth in the man's last statement, but eventually, he seemed to accept it, nodding slowly.
"Do you have any more questions?" Snape offered, his voice soft.
"No, sir… not right now," he responded. "But… if I do… can I ask them later?"
"You may."
Neither of them spoke for a while then, and eventually, Snape picked up his quill once more.
"Why don't you return to your common room and clean up before dinner? Your friends will no doubt be arriving back any time soon," he suggested.
"Okay," Harry agreed.
And then, before Severus Snape could do anything about it, the child lunged forward and hugged him fiercely, his bony arms digging into the man's neck.
Harry said nothing, but he didn't have to. The contact said everything: I believe you, I trust you, I forgive you…
Swallowing thickly, the potions master attempted to resist, half-heartedly.
"Unhand me at once, you filthy child. You have been crawling around on the floor of this classroom for the last hour."
"Perhaps you should clean it more often then?" Harry smiled, cheekily.
Picking up a worn-looking text book from the desk, Snape swatted him with it gently, before pushing it into his hand.
"Go. And put that in the cupboard by the door on your way out."
Harry nodded, taking it. "See you at dinner?"
"I shall be there," Snape confirmed, before turning back to the first year papers.
Harry turned to leave then, stopping briefly to deposit the shabby book into the cupboard, even though it looked like it better-belonged in the bin.
As he did, he frowned, noticing a book that appeared out of place, sitting on top of a stack of 'Magical Drafts and Potions' tomes.
It was a black, leatherbound book, sporting two tarnished gold corner protectors. It looked more like a notebook than a textbook, and there was nothing particularly spectacular about it. But somehow, it called to Harry, piqued his interest.
The boy glanced back at his guardian, but the man was far too engrossed in writing something unpleasant on the latest piece of parchment in front of him to notice.
Silently, Harry picked up the mysterious book, and left the
It was some time later that Severus Snape sensed another presence loitering in the door way.
"Is there some way in which I can help you, Mr Weasley?" he asked, without so much as a glance upwards.
"Um…" Ron mumbled, poking his head in and peering around the classroom. "Uh…"
"How very articulate of you. If you are in search of your little friend, he left for the dormitory not half an hour since," Snape told him. "Dinner will begin momentarily however, so perhaps see him in the great hall. The two of you will no doubt have ample time for frivolities before bed."
"Uh… right," the redhead nodded, nervously. "So… Harry's not… y'know, grounded, anymore?"
"Mr Potter had indeed served his time, and his punishment has come to an end," the potions master confirmed. "Perhaps, if you wish for it to stay that way, you will encourage him to stay out of trouble this term, and avoid using his fists as a solution for handling trivial matters."
Ron swallowed, but said nothing.
Snape went back to the paper he was grading – the final one in the pile, but the Weasley brat was still standing there and eventually, he lost patience, placing down his quill and looking up at the boy.
"Is there something else I can help you with, Mr Weasley?"
The boy seemed to think about that for a moment, before stepping somewhat gingerly into the room.
"Well, sir, it's just…"
Snape gestured to the space in front of his desk. "Come here, Weasley, and quick about it."
Ron obeyed.
"Speak," the professor ordered.
The boy's resolve appeared to crumble then. "It's just… Harry told me how he got into trouble for hitting that Hufflepuff boy. And he told me what you said, sir… about hitting him to defend James Potter's honour, and all that."
"Indeed."