Harry sighs, standing before the castle under an ashy sky, awaiting the Hogwarts express among hoards of eager, chatting students. The Christmas holidays have finally arrived and excitement consumes the halls of Hogwarts, and James is returning home to spend Christmas with Hermione. "Oh, here," he hands James a few gold coins, which clink in his hand. "Sorry for assigning homework during the Christmas holidays but your OWLS are this year and it never hurts to prepare,"
"It's fine, Dad," James grins, gripping the handle of his trunk as a small sliver of steam rises from the distance. "My year of full of dunderheads and they need all the help they can get!"
"That's not why I assigned it," Harry grumbles to himself, glaring at the bright carriages which slide before them, screeching to a stop. "Look, just try and have fun this holiday. Don't worry about your mother or me or anything. It'll work out, whatever the outcome,"
"So far it seems to have 'worked out' by you ignoring each other," James jumps onto the train before Harry can object, and he's left standing alone on the platform. From somewhere down the track Hagrid's booming voice carries through the vast countryside.
"All aboard! Hurry up now, the train's leavin'!" Harry debates jumping into the train to talk about that, but the wheels are already turning.
That evening, Harry's more than surprised when McGonnagal appears at his classroom door. "Ha- eh, Professor Potter. You do have a detention to supervise,"
"Really?" Harry places his quill down, spearing some ink over the assignments he'd planned to spend his holiday marking. So, the Slytherin boy stays here during the holidays. He surmises. Honestly, he catches himself wondering about Severus Snape more and more with each interaction they have. Whatever brief moments they've spent together has raised more questions in his mind about what exactly goes on inside the mind of this young Slytherin. He's fascinating, if anything.
"You're late,"
Is exactly what Harry hears when he reaches the library. Severus is leaning against the pillar, arms crossed loosely over his chest. Slim fingers twirl a stray lock of black hair between them, and the scent of stale cigarette smoke wafts from his body, mixed with an odd bleachy chemical aroma. It's a mixture of smells Harry finds oddly enticing. Not pleasant, but it's a scent that draws him in. "And cigarettes aren't allowed in this school," Harry counters as he unlocks the library doors, smiling up at the tall student. "I won't tell if you won't,"
Severus just ignores him, honestly done with life today. Pushing past his shoulder and into the library, he stands by the table, looking bored and awaiting whatever assignment he's going to get. "Look, it's the holidays and I have work to do," Harry sighs. "I don't feel like supervising anything. You can read or do whatever, just stay in the library,"
Severus nods and wanders away, staring at the hand-written parchment hovering by the isles, detailing the book genres. Finding nothing in the main library, he uses his Restricted Section access privilege to bypass the locked fence. Not looking for anything in particular, a book bound in blue velvet catches his eye, in an isle he didn't read the genres for. He grabs it from the shelf - no title. Sitting against the shelf, for there aren't any benches in this section, he opens it and begins to read. It's not an academic book, but one on the history of dark magic committed by Hogwarts alumni infamous for their crimes. Something he's developed quite an interest in.
Severus sits against the shelf and reads, getting so engrossed in his book he barely notices when Harry appears at the end of the isle. "What do you want?" He asks tersely.
"Is that any way to speak to your teacher?" Harry grins, picking a random book from the shelf. He tosses it between his hands before placing it back, the wrong way around. Severus notices, and feels a crawling annoyance over is skin. Like an itch under his skin. "And to answer - I want to know why you hate me so much,"
Severus looks up at him, glaring darkly. "What, you cant stand the possibility that someone doesn't admire you, Boy Who Lived?" He sneers, slightly surprised as Harry flinches, shuddering at the title.
"Don't call me that," he warns. "I hate it," Harry's voice carries a warming edge to it it never does, something dark and secretive until the cheerful countenance he usually exhibits. It actually makes Severus quite scared, setting his teeth on edge. Still, he reinforces the stronghold of his exterior stoicism.
"I don't believe you," he scoffs, standing up straight. This is the first time he's noticed how much taller he is than Harry, and that Harry is just wearing heeled shoes. Usually he slouches so he never considers how tall he really is. It's surreal, to be standing over his teacher like this. "How can you hate it? Everyone in the Wizarding World calls you that!"
"Everyone in the Wizarding world can do what they like," Harry smiles, but it's a warped kind of smile. Kind of course, for Harry can't smile any other way. But a reflection of kindness in he form of mercy. Like a killer letting a victim escape simply out of boredom. "I don't have to deal with them. But I have to interact with you on a daily basis until this idiot detention is over. I don't care what you call me, just not that," a hand slams on the bookshelf, just missing Severus' head. A wand poised at his throat, faint gleam from the end.
Severus grins crookedly, looking down at Harry. "Wow, you are insane aren't you?" He slides from Harry's grip, forcing him to turn into the length of the isle. There's nothing he can trap the student with anymore. "Fine. In that case, I'll call you 'Harry'," despite everything, the feeling of otherness exists when calling a teacher by their first name. Like wandering the Forbidden Forest blatantly.
Harry stares him down, overcome with confidence. Acting this way feels more comfortable, now that he's in his own skin and not hiding his true nature. It's nice to let someone see this version of him that isn't his wife or son. James calls it his 'real personality' as opposed to his 'fake' one. But that's not correct. It's more like a coin with two opposite sides, the coin as a whole representing who he is as a person. His kindness is genuine, but his cruelty is as well. "I think we should talk-" he raises his hands in surrender, voice returning to that chipper quality. "- unless you'd rather read. Up to you,"
He turns and walks back to the long benches at the front, Severus following begrudgingly. They sit opposite one another, Severus playing with some inscription carved into the table by students generations ago. Harry watches him closely. Severus Snape is intriguing to say the least, a rare specimen Harry can't figure out, his nature enigmatic and hidden. "So, why are you still here over the holidays?" The teacher asks with a small smile. "I never expected anyone to stick around! Even the NEWTS students and prefects don't stay over Christmas,"
"Why should I tell you?" Severus scoffs, staring longingly out the window, snow creeping across the hillside. He looks sad for a moment and Harry reaches across the table. It's an innocent gesture really, at least for now. His hand sits atop Severus', warming the cold skin. The contrast is stark, pale skin and long slender fingers against Harry's warm honey tones. Severus fights it, but feels himself relaxing.
"Because I showed you exactly who I am, at extreme risk to myself," Harry reminds him smugly. "I wouldn't be surprised if Dumbledore knows now. He knows everything that goes on in the castle, you know,"
Severus knows the implication is about smoking, but it feels more secretive than that. Like his deepest secrets aren't even his. "My parents hate each other, happy?" Severus glares again, sadness buried under anger. "I'm a half-blood. My father is a Muggle and resents my mother for her magic, he always has. And now I pay the price, even everyone in Slytherin shames me because I'm such an undesirable half-blood. I don't feel like being there for my father to hate as well,"
"You're a half-blood," Harry sighs quietly. "That's something we have in common,"
Severus' gaze shoots up quickly, his body tensing at the news. It's true, very little is known about Harry parents or anything about his past other than how a baby defeated the Dark Lord. He used to think that was just by chance, but how he knows Harry is a half-blood too, he suspects the teacher erased his history from the books himself. "And I know what it's like to hide from your home life. I spent my holidays here too, avoiding my aunt and uncle,"
Severus is honestly speechless. He doesn't know what to think, now his entire perception of this man has been overturned. The Wizard with the perfect life, admired by all and famous was once just as scared and hateful as him. It's a complete shock to the system, and he knows it'll take a while to process. He needs to talk to Lily, needs her help. Harry's hand feels more comfortable on his own, and warm too. Still he pulls away. "I need to think about this," he starts to walk away, pace hurried and hoping Harry doesn't address him again.
Harry relaxes and turns in his chair, calling after Severus. "I'm sure you know not to tell anyone about this!" He chuckles and waves even though Severus can't see him. Staring up at the ceiling, he can't wipe the grin off his face no matter how hard he tries. "You weren't expecting that, were you Dumbledore? I do hope Severus doesn't hold James' wrongdoings against me. I'd like to get to know him a lot better. He's very interesting to me,"