Harry Potter the Power Unknown By Priya Ashok

Chapter 9

Snape and McGonagall left Hogwarts on the same day as the students. Albus was glad to see them go as he had become sick of Minerva's concern over Harry, and whenever she would raise it in front of Snape (it was far too often in his opinion) it always ended in an argument that made him unable to work properly for the rest of the day.

Snape and Minerva went straight to Potter castle and were greeted by a shout of glee and a hug. They had not seen Harry since the spring holidays and they were amazed at his growth. He had grown taller and was looking smart.

"So Harry how are you?" asked Minerva as Harry released her and latched on to Snape. Still hanging on to his arm, Harry grinned back at her, "Fine aunty Minerva. And both of you, how have you been? It's been ages you know. Why couldn't you even come over for a day I don't know?" he ended on a plaintive note.

"Harry, I told you this would be our busiest time, as exams and grading go on at full strength. Otherwise do you think, both of us want to spend any more time with Bumbles, than we are doing now?" asked Snape with a smile at Harry's pitifully falsely mournful voice.

Minerva smiled as well patting his arm and turning to greet Sirius and Remus, who had come to greet them as well.

Snape scowled at them, they scowled right back at him and all were satisfied. Harry started giggling at the scowls all the three wore and was told off sternly by Sirius.

"Hey! This is a serious thing, you know. We take pride in scowling and sniping at each other. I'll have you know not to mock at it, young man," and spoilt it by grinning and ruffling Harry's hair.

Snape scowled even more and muttering about silly dogs and infantile pups with no breeding to speak of and went on to his room to refresh himself.

Sirius scowled at that and shooting him a very obscene gesture with his fingers yelped when Minerva smartly smacked him on his head.

"You know Sirius, just because we are not at Hogwarts, you need not think I will not come down on you. I can and might be persuaded to give you a detention right here and tell you to help Severus clean cauldrons, without magic." She ended with a glare at him, glancing at Harry, "That goes for you too young man. No dirty talking and no rude gestures. You have been warned."

Both of them gulped audibly and resolved not to do anything to offend her. Sirius consoled himself saying he could always lie low for a few days before irritating Snape. That was one of the joys in his life and he was dammed if he would allow Min-Min to stop it. The problem was she seemed to know exactly what he was thinking and was looking through him and at him rather speculatively.

Snape re-entered at that moment and all of them went to have some tea and biscuits as they brought each other up to date.

Remus and Sirius told them about all they had been teaching Harry and it was quite a lot. He was up to third year now and he was astounding when it came to grasping the theory and beyond comparison when it came to the practical.

Snape decided to teach him the Dark Arts as Albus would use them ruthlessly to press his advantage. If he could place a blood call spell on a baby he was capable of doing quite anything.

Harry was now wearing the Black ring along with the Potter rings. Snape was quite correct when he assumed the two rings to be that of Griffindor and Slytherin. They would help and make sure Harry could never be placed under any kind of spell without his full consent.