The Sins of a Father

Chapter 12

           The Apprenticeship

  I walked with everyone to the Train platform and explained to them my plans about staying. Most of them were excited for me because they would get to see me next year but my other friends, Grace and Isla didn't approve as much only because I wouldn't get to see them as often.

"Hey Harry um when I get my own place and if you aren't seventeen yet, I was wondering if there was a possibility that you would want to perhaps stay with me unless by then um your Godfather is proven innocent then you could live with him but I'm only saying this as an option but it's your life, you do what you want," I rambled.

"I don't think Sirius is going to be proven innocent anytime soon so I may have to take you up on that offer later in life, am I going to get to see you over the summer?" he asked.

"Yeah, most likely but if you don't," I paused for a moment, holding out the box out from behind me. "Happy Birthday!" I revealed to him a wrapped gift. Harry smiled at me then took it and unwrapped it. The present was the scrapbook that had my mother's pictures in them but before I gave it to him I had thoroughly gone through it and took out all the pictures of Snape, not that there were many.

"Where did you manage to get this?" he asked happily.

"I inherited it after our grandparents died and I thought now that I've had for it four year, it's time to pass it on. James is in a few of these pictures too but all I ask is that you take care of it to the best of your ability," I ordered with a small smile. Harry now wore a serious expression on his face then nodded his head.

"Don't worry, I'll hide it from the Dursley's and what should I do if they have taken it?" he asked.

"Write me and I'll apparate there faster than you can say flabberdoodleluingistic and then I'll show them who's boss, alright?" I comforted. Harry smiled again quickly gave me a hug then left the platform. Fred and George passed me next and I gathered them into my arms, even though I was older they were so much taller than I.

"Write me, the both of you and I promise I'll try to visit you over the summer, alright?" I asked, my arms still wrapped around them.

"Of course," they said together in unison. I smiled at them one last time then released the twins so they could get onto the train and leave. I walked over by Hagrid then waved at the students lingering out of the windows.

"Does it feel strange that yer' not goin' back to yer' old life?" Hagrid asked me once the train started to disappear. I dwelled on the question for a long while then finally nodded as my reply.

"Yeah it is a little bit, I mean I feel like I'm ditching my old life to enter a new one," I explained. "How about you, I mean is it strange for you to see them leave but you've been here for a long time so I guess you're used to it," I rambled, again.

"I have been here for a long time, yes but I never get used to it," Hagrid responded. I watched the smoke disappear into the sky then finally walked back to the castle with Hagrid.

"I'll see you around, Hagrid," I called out to the half giant as I made my way to Snape's office. I knocked on the door, like the respectful person I was then entered once I was told to do so. Snape was sitting at desk, like usual but instead of grading papers, he was reading out of an Advanced Potions book.

"Starting today you will be learning further about the Defense Against the Dark Arts as well as Potions, you are to do everything I say without question and you are to answer me directly is that understood?" he demanded. Snape peaked from the book to see my answer.

"Yes sir," I responded with solemn confidence. Snape closed his book shut then handed it to me.

"Good, you are to perfect every single potion in this book and if you do not do it right you shall start the whole potion over, understand?"