Merlin's Apprentices

Chapter 11

Severus waited impatiently for Minerva to finish getting ready. She was taking much too long in his opinion. Sure, it had only been ten minutes, but he was eager to see Harry again. There was just something about him that drew Severus in. Perhaps it was the way he absorbed knowledge, so much like Severus himself. Perhaps it was the charming smile. Perhaps it was the attitude. Severus didn’t know. He only knew that he was growing fond of the boy.

Finally, after an agonizing twenty minutes, Minerva came out, ready to go.

“Finally!” Severus exclaimed. “Let’s go.”

Minerva rolled her eyes but let Severus apparate her to the location. It was a little cottage on the shore of a lake. It didn’t look like much, but Minerva knew better than to trust appearances.

Severus knocked on the door and Minerva heard a faint, “I’ll get it!”

A second later, the door opened to reveal one Harry Potter, looking quite a bit happier and healthier than the last time she had seen him. “Professors!” Harry exclaimed. “Would you care to join us for breakfast? We have plenty. I accidentally made enough for six people again.”

“I would love to, thank you, Harry,” Severus said, and Minerva nodded.

After introductions, the five sat down for breakfast. They ate their fill and then retired to the sitting room. Colin went off to train Quilo some more, sensing that this wasn’t a conversation he needed to be present for.

“We’ve come about your timetable, Harry,” Severus said.

Harry immediately brightened. “Do I get to help choose?” Without waiting for an answer, he continued, “Because I could do potions every day! Seriously. You can knock all my free periods.”

Minerva blinked in shock. “Well, we were going to eliminate divination so you would have some time for homework and such...”

“Even better!” Harry declared. “If I need to, I can take less Herbology too. It’s practically just a branch of potions. I can only take half the class. The part where she teaches us how to care for the plants, rather than when she teaches us what their properties are.”

Minerva nodded her head slowly. “That would work. As long as Professor Snape teaches you enough about herbology to pass your exams, then it should be fine.”

“I can do that,” Severus said.

“Very well then.” Minerva magicked the timetable to the correct position and nodded in satisfaction. “You will have potions every day. If you slack in your schoolwork, however, I will have to cut back on your sessions.”

Harry nodded determinedly. “I won’t,” he promised.

“Alright, then I bid you farewell. I hope you have an excellent day, Mr. Potter.”

Harry grinned at Severus. “I’m sure I will.”

After Minerva had left, Harry turned on Merlin. “Master, can I have your permission to meet someone named Remus?”

Merlin raised an eyebrow. “Sev, is he talking about the Remus that was friends with those bullies?”

Severus blushed. “Perhaps.”

Merlin smiled. “I’m glad you two didn’t let them push you apart. Of course, you can meet him Harry. As soon as you finish that history essay.”

Harry grinned and ran off to finish his essay.

“You’re... alright with me... liking another male?” Severus asked Merlin hesitantly.

Merlin laughed. “Did I never tell you, Sev? I was in love with Arthur. Not that he ever loved me back. Why in the goddess’s name would I not be alright with you being gay?”

Severus slowly smiled. “Thank you,” he said quietly. Coming out to Merlin had been much easier than he previously thought it would be.

The two chatted until Harry came back with his essay. “Can we go now?” he asked happily.

Severus nodded and gestured for Harry to hold his arm. Then, he took the reusable portkey from around his neck and went to Remus’s.

The werewolf was already outside, humming happily as he read through a book on runes while lying on the grass.

“I’m here,” Severus said. He had already been planning on coming that day to deliver the new potion, which he luckily already had on him.

Remus lit up when he looked up and saw the two. He put a bookmark in his book and stood to greet them. “Severus! Who is this?”

“My pupil and assistant, Harry. He wanted to meet you. Harry, this is Remus Lupin.”

“A Hogwarts student!” Remus said with a smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Harry smiled back. “The pleasure is mine, Mr. Lupin.”

“Why don’t you come in? I have some tea waiting.”

They went in and into the sitting room, where Remus poured them each some tea.

“I brought the new potion, Rem,” Severus said, sliding a box over to him.

Remus blinked in surprise. “Wow, I expected that to take longer.”

“It would have, if it weren’t for Harry.”

“Another brewing addict?”

Harry snorted. “I can’t brew to save my life,” he said. “I’m just good at the theory.”

“Interesting,” Remus said.

“Would you mind watching Harry for a moment, Rem? I forgot the potion for after in my lab. I’ll only be gone a moment.”

Remus nodded and watched Severus walk out of the house before apparating to his home. He sighed after he had disappeared.

“You like him,” Harry said.

Remus jumped, having forgotten about him momentarily. “Um, what? No.”

“Oh, come off it. You two are perfect for each other. Haven’t you seen the way he looks at you?”

Remus hesitated. “Well, maybe I do.”

“Great. Tell him. If you wait for him to make the first move, then you’ll never go anywhere.”

Remus vaguely wondered why this child was lecturing him on his love life, but that thought was drowned out by the thought of telling Severus how he felt. Both sides of him loved Severus. Moony loved that he went out of his way to keep him healthy but sane, and Remus loved everything about him. He loved the way he got so excited over a new potion. He loved the way he could make him smile.

Severus returned, snapping Remus out of his thoughts.

He looked suspiciously at Harry’s innocent smile before handing a second box to Remus. “Here you go. Harry helped me with these too.”

Harry talked with Remus and Severus for about an hour before it was time for him to return home. He shot a pointed look at Remus as he left with Severus.