So Many Secrets.

Summer...?

Most of my friends hate being at school. Draco hates History of Magic. Neville hates Defense against the dark arts. Hermione likes everything but she doesn't like most of our classmates.

I love Hogwarts. Why do I have to be sick? I'm the one that likes school, why can't I be back there?

"Severusssss," I whine, shamefully pouting with my arms crossed. "I am fine! Let me go to classes! I promise I'll take it easy! I'll drink a lot of water and I'll make sure to eat bread and stuff at lunch! Please let me go! I'm bored! There's nothing to do here!"

"Harry, you're lucky you're getting to stay in my quarters instead of staying at the house another two days," Severus says with a pointed look. "You aren't going to classes until that fever dies down. I mean it."

"But I don't have a fever! Feel!"

I take his hand, even though he's frowning, and I press it to my forehead. I checked with the thermometer this morning and it said I didn't have a fever, so that means I should be fine to go to class!

"Come on, please!? Pleeeeeeeeease?"

I look up at him with wide, puppy dog eyes, borderline begging to be able to go to classes. He feels my forehead, then lets out a sigh as he lets his hand fall. He studies me.

"Fine," he finally says. "If you are absolutely sure that you can handle going and you want to go, then you can go. However-" he continues, stopping me from letting out a celebratory sound, "-if you feel sick at all, I want you back in my quarters right away. If I find out you got sick today and you kept going to classes, then you won't go back until I say so. Do you understand?"

"Uh huh! I promise!"

I shoot my arms around his hips, squeezing him in a tight hug, head buried in his chest. My smile is wide, toothy, and excited. I'm happy to go back.

"Thank you thank you thank youuuuu!"

He ruffles my hair and chuckles. After a few minutes, he pulls me away and smiles a bit.

"Don't go to Herbology, Hare. It's still chilly out. You stay here, nap, and you may go to the rest of your classes. I want you in here for lunch so I can check up on you."

"Okay!"

I'm quick about it, getting comfy on the sofa so I can lie here a bit. Severus gives me a stern look, like he knows I want to sneak out and go to Herbology anyway, but I stay put. I gesture for him to leave.

"I'm not going to run away. Go to class!"

"Don't tell me to go to class, squirt," he says, but he puts on his robe and grabs his stuff anyways. "Lunch. Here. I mean it, Hare."

"I knowwwwwwwwww!"

He chuckles, but then he leaves. I curl up, ready to take a little nap before finally going to classes. 

*                                *                                  *                            

"So, Hare," Severus says as he eats the pasta he made for lunch. "We need to talk about the summer."

"Summer?"

I glance up, away from my plate, looking at him curiously. What does he mean summer? 

"Dumbledore talked to me a while back, about where you're going to be staying during the summer. I know we've discussed you staying at my house with me in the past, but... well, Dumbledore wants you to stay with your Aunt," he says quietly. "There's a kind of blood magic there. It would protect you."