Lily's Charm- Severitus fanfiction

Dark Mark

1996

I’m Sorry, sir…

Severus sifted Harry’s words through his mind as he read Weasley’s abysmal essay. How could the boy use those words so easily…so freely? Harry hadn’t seemed at all uncomfortable as he’d apologized. And there had been no reason for him to apologize at all. Harry had only spoken the truth; Severus had tortured him for years.

It seemed Harry shared Lily’s forgiving nature and Severus felt the same flicker of hope as he had the day they had used the Filial Potion; perhaps Harry could find a way to forgive him. Albus had tried to tell Severus many times that Harry had an incredible capacity to love, to which the Potions Master had scoffed. The notion that the son of a treacherous Gryffindor could be anything more than a self-centered, attention-seeking little brat had been nothing short of absurdity.

But Harry Potter wasn’t the son of a treacherous Gryffindor. There hadn’t even been a treacherous Gryffindor, save Pettigrew. Potter had not betrayed him. James had kept their newly-forged friendship close, even if only to save the boy who he had loved almost as dearly as Severus had himself.

He had loved the boy once, he told himself firmly, but he did not now how to love Harry again. But Severus owed it to Lily to at least try to explain it to her son. His fist clenched against Weasley’s parchment; how had he ever treated Lily’s son with anything less than kindness?

There was movement in Severus’ peripheral vision and his eyes strayed over to Harry’s table but the boy was walking toward the classroom storage closet. His steps seemed uncertain as though he was afraid Severus would snap at him for leaving his seat. Severus closed his eyes, irritated. Why must he be so hesitant? Wasn’t he supposed to be the very courage prized so highly by his fellow Gryffindors?

“Professor?”

Severus’ eyes snapped open and he growled, “What?” He watched Harry shrinking back a step and then drawing himself up.

“You’re out of Essence of Clover,” the boy said, barely retaining a civil tone and Severus had to bite back the rebuke that rose to his lips out of habit.

Severus waved his wand and a flask materialized in his hand. He set it on the edge of his desk and offered, “You may use that.” At the unspoken question in Harry’s eyes, Severus explained, “From my personal stores.”

Harry nodded and came forward to take the potion. He picked it up quickly, clamping his fingers around, his eyes on Severus and then he blurted in one breath, “Dumbledore told me to ask you about Malfoy.”

Keeping his face absolutely controlled, Severus inwardly fumed at the Headmaster. “What about Mr. Malfoy?” Severus asked, giving away nothing. Harry narrowed his eyes; Severus didn’t enjoy the scrutiny. “You have something to say, Mr. Potter?” And inexplicably, the boy smiled. Severus pursed his lips and waited with ill-concealed impatience for Harry to speak.

“I’m guessing you have something to do with how strange he’s been acting,” Harry said, the hint of a smile still about his lips.

“I have not noticed anything out of the ordinary regarding Mr. Malfoy,” Severus lied, carefully keeping his tone neutral. Harry’s small smile turned into a smirk, though Severus could find nothing amusing about his answer.