Lily's Charm- Severitus fanfiction

Flight

1996

Taking a chance, Severus offered, “If you wish, you may spend the day in my private labs with me.”

Severus watched as Harry’s face lit up with a smile. “I’d like that, sir,” he agreed and Severus felt a rush of relief at his son’s words. He had not expected him to consent so readily.

Encouraged, Severus said in a conversational tone, “You decided to take on the Quidditch Captaincy.”

For some reason, Harry’s cheeks tinged red. “Yeah,” he nodded. After a hesitation, he elaborated with a shrug, “I was going to play anyway.” Then Harry’s face clouded over and Severus raised an eyebrow at his son’s sudden change in mood.

“It was your choice,” Severus told him, trying to make it clear that he was not angry that he had not taken his advice. Harry looked confused.

Clearly, the boy did not understand Severus’ message, but Harry surprised him by saying, “I know, sir.”

“Indeed. What then is the matter?” The words of concern came much more easily than Severus would have believed they could.

Harry looked away. Severus waited for Harry to collect himself, recognizing in his son his own habit of tempering an emotional response. When Harry turned back, he said quietly, “It was Remus who asked if I’d play even if I wasn’t Captain.”

Severus frowned, displeased that either Harry had sought out Lupin’s advice or that Lupin had offered it unasked. “And?” the Potions Master asked, more severely than he had intended. Harry’s eyes flashed in irritation and Severus regretted his harsh tone.

“He snapped at me in his office and it bothered me, alright?” Harry huffed. Severus held back a smile as his son crossed his arms across his chest in a decidedly Lily-like gesture. The halted smile seemed to annoy Harry though as he exclaimed, “Just because you don’t like him doesn’t mean you need to be happy that he upset me!” The hurt on Harry’s face was plain.

Severus stared at him, taken aback. He narrowed his eyes as he studied his son. “It does not make me happy that Lupin upset you.” It wasn’t precisely the truth even if Harry hadn’t used the word happy to describe the way Severus was feeling. And he knew perfectly well why Lupin would have been peevish with Harry. Something in Severus’ expression must have given him away as Harry was squinting suspiciously at him. Wanting to distract him, Severus asked evenly, “What did Lupin say?”

Harry ignored the question in favor of asking, “Did you say something to him?”

Severus shifted in rare discomfort. He was disinclined to share his earlier conversation with the werewolf. But Harry was watching him carefully; Severus set his jaw in determination, unwilling to lose the tenuous connection he now had with his son.

“I would not permit Lupin to speak with you about your Silencing Spell,” he admitted, Occluding his mind. Severus had no wish to lose his temper during the justifiably angry outburst that was sure to follow his statement. But Harry was gazing at him, his face stilled in contemplation.

“Oh,” was all he said.

Severus didn’t know what to make of Harry’s lack of response. Each time he felt as though he was getting to understand his son better, Harry would say or do something that the Professor could not have hoped to account for. The boy was utterly unpredictable and Severus had very little patience for the erratic behaviors that so obviously ruled the boy.