The Friday Boy

CHAPTER 2

Harry joined the end of the line in the corridor waiting for the single bathroom. Despite there being three bathrooms for the entire house, only one at present was usable. A reincarnation of Sirius’ childhood pet hampster had taken over the bathroom in the attic terrorizing all who dared pray homage to the porcelain god. The one downstairs was solely for the use of Remus during his transformation as it had the deepest bathtub to ease his aches and pains. So it was the morning ritual to be standing in line waiting to use the facilities. Ron was sleepily propped up against the wall a towel slung over his shoulder and a clean pair of boxer shorts clutched in his hands.

“He went again last night.” Harry yawned as he took up position beside Ron who yawned in sympathy.

“Are you still on with that?” Fred stuck his head out from down the line obviously having heard Harry’s morning comment. Harry gave the elder red haired twin the finger before turning back to Ron who merely shrugged his shoulder uncaringly.

“You really have to get a life mate.” Ron mumbled as the line moved as Ginny came strolling out of the bathroom in her bra and panties, smelling of lavender and with her hair in curlers. Harry spared her a glance in passing smiling at the sway of her arse as she disappeared into the bedroom she shared with Mrs. Weasley, Tonks and Hermione when they were all here. The look earned him a slap from Ron who glared at him before continuing. “Realistically Harry it’s fair to say that he’s probably just going out to get away from everyone. Hell, in this place it’d be nice once in a while to have time to myself.” A scuffle from the front of the line had Ron and Harry glancing up the corridor. Fred and George were fighting over who got the shower first their curses narrowly missing Harry and Ron behind them.

“Yeah I know, it’s just irritating that’s all. I mean where could he possibly go at 11 o’clock….” Harry trailed off immediately as the door opposite where he was propped against the wall opened revealing the current topic of conversation. Severus was already cleaned and preened to his usual immaculate dress having undoubtedly got up early enough not to have to fight for the bathroom. “Morning professor.” Harry swallowed nervously around his tight throat having hoped Severus hadn’t heard him talking about him.

“Potter.” Snape’s voice was icy as he glanced distastefully over Harry before turning and disappeared down the stairs at the end of the corridor. Judging from the smells coming up from the kitchen breakfast was already underway. Harry sighed heavily and relaxed back against the wall as he turned to face Ron who was now hopping from foot to foot desperate for his brothers to finish.

“Smooth Harry, real smooth.” Ron snapped when Snape was out of hearing range. Harry rolled his eyes and folded his arms across his chest as he leant back against the wall to wait. Like always he’d be the last down to breakfast and he’d end up with mushy eggs, cold bacon and burnt toast. Summers at Grimmauld Place were great….

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Harry sat at the breakfast table staring at his burnt toast and undercooked scrambled eggs in disgust. Everyone was in the kitchen, bustling to and fro grabbing food, sharing newspapers and exchanging gossip. Harry had never really had a family as such and was rather fond of mealtimes at Grimmauld place when everyone was there. Like always Snape sat in the kitchen doorway, a cup of tea steaming at his side and the daily newspaper open hiding him from view. Harry stared at him, trying to glare a hole in the paper so that he could see the professor’s face, and any possible signs of what the man was up to. There were little chances of that happening however and so Harry pushed aside his breakfast and simply settled for the cup of coffee Mrs. Weasley had offered him.

With the arrival of Dumbledore drew the conversations to order work. Seated around the kitchen the daily break up of tasks and information began and Harry sat in the middle of it, hardly hearing anything that was being said. Snape remained in the kitchen doorway reading the paper occasionally adding his piece when specifically asked but going no further as to positively contribute. The final topic of the morning had been potions or specifically a new development by the ministry that Arthur had nicked a sample of. As always Harry knew there was going to be conflict when Sirius stuck his nose in and an argument was soon in full swing.

“…That’s ridiculous Albus, it should be independently tested. Gloomy guts over there doesn’t know what side he’s on some days.” Harry sighed heavily as Sirius pointed irritably at Severus who put aside his paper and glared at the animagus.

“…Oh and who else are you going to give this potion to test prey tell? Do we know anyone else who’s a potion master that can be trusted?” Severus snapped sharply as he stood up and went to reach for the potion bottle that Albus was all to willing to pass to him. Sirius snatched it from Snape’s grasp however and handed it to an unwilling Lupin to hold.

“I think we need an expert that’s neutral that’s all? Besides if it’s trust we’re after we certainly wouldn’t call you.” Sirius spat back as he tried and failed to glare Snape down. Snape’s gaze narrowed dangerously and Harry knew that look from countless times at school. Snape was going to explode and Harry braced himself for the fall out.

“An expert and I suppose you think you are an expert don’t you Black?” Snape’s tone of voice had darkened and Harry winced as he watched Snape reach across the table and snatch the potion back out of Lupin’s hand.

“Yes I am an expert in some respects.” Sirius declared haughtily his smug smile only serving to ignite the dangerous fire in Snape’s gaze.

“Well when I need an expert in licking my own balls, I’ll be sure to give you a call.” There was a collective intake of air at Snape’s sharp retort and Harry snorted into his coffee unable to hide his laughter. Ron too was going purple in the face, trying and failing to keep a lid on his humor knowing it would only cause more trouble. Satisfied that he’d successfully wounded Sirius Snape pocketed the vial of potion and with a nod to the headmaster disappeared from the kitchen. It took but half a second before Sirius seemed to realize the depth of the insult before he exploded, swearing and screaming at Severus from the kitchen doorway as the potion professor disappeared down into the basement. With Sirius finally ending his tirade and storming out into the backyard with Lupin, Harry, Ron and the other Weasley’s were free to giggle. Snape it seemed was on fine form this morning and even Harry had been impressed by his insult but rather glad he hadn’t been on the receiving end.

“Weasley’s…” Molly Weasley waved her egg flip threateningly at her son’s who were still in hysterics. When their mothers warning did little to abate their laughter Arthur stood up sharply and grabbed Ron by the collar.

“Right you lot we’ve got some gardening to do.” There was a collective groan from the Weasley’s who were all herded out of the kitchen, Ron still crying with laughter and holding his sides. Dumbledore stepped in quickly when the Weasley clan had been carted off.

“The rest of you have jobs to do I think.” Dumbledore glanced at the order members who all mumbled their agreement and began to leave; their apparition pops echoing up the hall as they left. Finally it was only Harry, Dumbledore and Mrs. Weasley left in the kitchen. Harry knew what was coming as he watched Dumbledore stare down at him from over the rims of his half moon glasses.

“I think perhaps it would be a good occupation of your time to go downstairs and offer your services in helping Severus with the potion analysis don’t you think Harry?” One thing Harry disliked about the headmaster the most was the way Dumbledore phrased his questions so that they became deliberate statements with no real answer required.

“Great, send me into the lions den. He says I’m incompetent? What if I lose an arm or something?” Harry waved his hand in front of Dumbledore’s unimpressed expression the elder wizard refusing to back down.

“Well you’ll be in luck because Severus can brew one of the best skelegro potions in England.” Harry tutted loudly and reluctantly finished his coffee before getting to his feet.

“If I die…” Harry declared as he headed out of the kitchen door. Dumbledore chuckled and shook his head as he quickly butted into Harry’s comment.

“…I’ll send my condolences to your Aunt and Uncle.” Harry scoffed loudly as he listened to Dumbledore and Mrs. Weasley laugh at him as he descended the stairs.

The basement like the dungeons at Hogwart’s were damp, musty and cold even in summer. During the full moon Lupin used the space for his transformation but for the rest of the month, during the summer at least, it doubled as Snape’s makeshift potions lab. Harry sighed as he sauntered down into the torch lit room and focused on Snape standing hunched over a bubbling cauldron and tentatively inspecting several vials clutched in his hands.

“What do you want?” Severus didn’t need to even look up from his work to know it was Harry, and the boy knew it was a skill the professor had learnt from five years of Harry’s schooling.

“I’ve come to offer my services to this potions thingy.” Harry declared as he rounded the room before propping himself up on the bench beside Snape. Snape had taken off his waistcoat, and had rolled his sleeves up to his elbows so that it was easier to work. Harry couldn’t help but inwardly wince as he caught sight of the dark mark on the man’s inner forearm.

“To offer or have been ordered to?” Severus muttered as he gestured for Harry to hand him the glass-stirring rod the boy was sitting beside on the bench. Harry ignored the comment knowing it was best not to dig himself into a hole when Snape was in this kind of mood. Harry sat for a long time watching Snape work, the potion professor walked backwards and forwards between his notebook propped open on the bench and the cauldron in the center of the room. Harry got bored quickly in the silence but as he stared at Snape a spark of ingenuity hit him.

“So, big night last night?” Harry offered nonchalantly as he re arranged Severus’ ingredients bottles so that they were in alphabetical order on the bench. Severus paused in his stirring and glanced over his shoulder suspiciously at Harry who was pretending not to notice.

“No, quite quiet despite your godmut’s snoring.” Severus turned back to his potion and Harry inwardly berated himself for being stupid enough as to believe Snape would just say yes to such a question. Taking a different tact Harry tried again.

“Those clubs are hot though aren’t they?” Taking another stab in the dark Harry blotted Snape’s notes for him as again the potion master glanced suspiciously at Harry over his shoulder.

“You’re 16 Potter.” Severus grumbled again as he gestured for Harry to pass him some dried scaly eel from the jar on the bench. Harry rolled his eyes and sighed quietly as he obediently uncorked the bottle and handed it to Snape. Not to be deterred however Harry tried yet again.

“I like walks at night, you see lots of different wildlife?” Harry this time didn’t avoid looking at Snape and smiled politely at the man as he took the bottle of ingredients back and replaced it in the line on the bench. Snape stirred the potion in the cauldron once more before putting aside the stirring rod and turning fully to face Harry.

“Wildlife Potter?” Harry bit his bottom lip cautiously as he watched Snape raise a suspicious eyebrow at him, his arms folded across his chest. Harry shrugged at the question and watched as Snape’s gaze narrowed dangerously. “If you’ve got something to say to me Potter I suggest you do it before I put this stirring rod to another use across your backside.” Snape glared at Harry pointedly waiting impatiently for the boy to respond. Harry cringed as he twisted his hands in his lap nervously.

“Where do you go?” Harry inquired rushing his question out quickly so that he didn’t have time to think about it. Snape’s frown deepened his lips narrowing impossibly.

“What?” Snape finally muttered his frown softening to an expression of confusion. Harry sighed with relief, as he continued a little calmer and his heart rate slowing.

“On Friday nights at 11, where do you go?” Harry breathed out watching, as the confusion in Snape’s expression was swept clean to the cold hard slate Harry was more familiar with.

“Get out.” The command was icy and Harry obediently stepped down off the bench as Snape straightened himself to his full height and stared down at the slighter framed boy.

“…It’s not as if you hide the fact you leave, anyone can see you.” Harry was backing himself up quickly towards the stairs as Snape advanced on him, the man’s expression an icy wash but his eyes narrowed dangerously.

“I said get out and keep your nose out of other peoples private business Potter. OUT NOW!” Snape drew his wand and Harry wasn’t hanging around to find out what the death eater planned to do with it. Taking the stairs two at a time Harry barreled out into the hall, skidding on the polished floorboards and slamming straight into Lupin.

“You look pale Harry, Severus cooking up a foul concoction down there?” Lupin smiled brightly at Harry, but both wizards jumped as the door at the bottom of the stairs into the basement slammed closed.

“Yeah, something like that.” Harry muttered as he disappeared off into the backyard, intent on finding the Weasley’s to help tackle Sirius untamed garden. Fighting redcaps, gnomes and strangling ivy was far more appealing that fighting Severus.

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>