The Meaning of Tomorrow

Disclaimer: Everything you recognize is not mine; Wizarding World and its inhabitants are solely the property of one JKR, and I use them just for the thrill of it. But do own something: the little part of the characters you do not recognize, well, that\'s mine! Oh, and the plot bunny is my pet - it nestled quite nice in my living quarters, and is looking as if it will have some offspring.

A/N: To follow the history of actions and the event flux easier, they will be brought in different POV\'s, so nothing important will be left out. The speaker or the person, who\'s POV it is, will be marked!


Chapter 3: Deep in the pits of the meddling old coot\'s realm

>parseltongue<
/thoughts/
#mental communication#
*emphasis*


(Severus\' POV)

Harry and Severus walked slowly towards the Headmaster\'s office. After they went from everybody\'s sight, Harry turned towards Severus.

\"Should I ask you do you know what this is about or should I just continue with my guessing?\" Harry asked.

\"Yes, Potter, to satisfy your immense curiosity, I am informed of the cause to this impromptu meeting. But rest assured, it is not about *Remedial Potions*,\" Severus replied, then continued on his path.

\"Thanks to Merlin! I wasn\'t very good at that. Everything else I could manage!\" Harry said, almost cheerful.

\"That we will see! That we will see!\" Severus mumbled, but was still heard by Harry.

/Oh Merlin, let Albus have good Silencing charms on his office, / he thought.

When they arrived at the gargoyle statue, Harry looked up to Severus.

\"Cotton candy,\" Severus barked the password.

\"Candies again? Really he needs to get some imagination,\" Harry mumbled and then snickered. \"Can it be bought bottled, sir? Imagination, you know ... If yes, then I know what Albus will get from me for this Christmas!\"

\"Mr. Potter, you are a student of this School, thus you will address the Headmaster with appropriate respect,\" Severus said.

Harry looked at the floor and his shoulders hunched as he entered the passage to the Headmaster\'s office.

/Maybe because he is in good relations with Draco, he wants to write a pact of good will with me also. / Severus thought, eyeing Harry. /And I want to take care of this brat, so I must get in his good books. /

\"But, no, Harry. Imagination is something that is inborn. It cannot be bought bottled or any other way. But we do agree that Albus needs to have his a little bit peaked,\" he said to Harry.

Harry\'s eyes got wide as he stared at his Potions Professor.

\"Yes, I too have a sense of humor. Even if I conceal it well under the Potions Master\'s git persona,\" Severus said, looking at Harry.

\"I am sorry, sir, for the times I offended you. I am really grateful for every time you saved my life. And that was a lot of times. And ... and ...\" Harry stuttered and blushed.

Even though Severus found the situation very amusing, he dreaded the second they entered that office, and he wanted to remove some animosity between Harry and himself.

\"Well, IREALLYLIKETHESNARKYPOTIONSMASTERSGITPERSONA!\" Harry blurted out. He turned even more crimson. His blush now went from his hair line down his shirt collar.

/What was that? Harry likes me?! Well, that is better then I thought ? Wait a minute! Harry is gay! I want to be a Father figure, not a lover, / Severus thought, confused.

\"Breathe, Potter. Then repeat. I did not understand a single syllable of that gibberish of your!\" he said.

\"Well, you see ...\" Harry started, leaning on the wall. \"I really like the way you act: snarky, a bit rude, able to twist with words, independent, the imposing figure ... And that glare ... People leave you alone when you look at then. You see, I\'d like to learn to be that way, so maybe then people will stop staring at me all the time. Maybe then they will see Harry, the person behind the *little hero\'s* mask.\"

Severus breathed out in relief. /He wants to learn ... that is ... Great! Turn in your grave, James! Howl behind that Veil, Sirius! For he wants to learn from ME!!! / Severus cheered.

Harry saw his professor sag in relief, blushed even more and panicked. \"Oh, Merlin! You thought...?! You just found out that I am gay and when I said I liked you, you thought ... Oh, gods! No, sir!!! It is not like that, never like that!!!\" he exclaimed.

\"It is alright, Harry. When I was younger, when I started working here, I had some students swoon after me. And it is not that you are not a good looking young man, but no ... Even if you liked me that way that is all it would ever remain: like. I could never be with someone that is or was my student. As for everything else, I thank you for the compliment. I am more often disliked then liked,\" Severus said, patting Harry\'s shoulder in a comforting act.

\"Now, the Headmaster awaits. It is not good to keep him waiting for long. He gets funny,\" he said out loud, then mumbled under his breath: \"like a junkie on a high. I really must get one of those blasted lemon things and test them. One needs to know with what they are laced.\"

Harry laughed at his teacher\'s comment and then spoke. \"I believe with muggle Prozac or something like that,\" he said.

\"What?!\" Severus shrieked.

\"You did not know. And here I thought that at least the professors knew that,\" Harry added, shocked.

\"Well, that explains Albus\', and sometimes Minerva\'s, too cheery mood. Now I know to continue refusing them,\" Severus said, memorizing not ever to take one of the things.

\"Oh, yeah,\" Harry continued. \"Some of those peppermint chocolates are laced with something that is also a Muggle product, a pill that works like an aphrodisiac. I heard Albus joke about that with McGonagall.\"

\"Can you remember with what?\" Severus asked, interested. /I felt funny that one time I indulged in that thing I stole from Albus\' office, / he thought.

\"I believe it was ... yeah, Nia, Via ... No, it was Viagra,\" Harry said, feeling proud that he could remember.

Severus\' eyes widened.

\"Are you sure, Harry? Really sure about that?\" Severus asked him.

\"Yes, I am. I heard it when I was strolling on night ... Ooops!!!\" Harry stopped himself from speaking by clamping a hand firmly on his mouth.

Severus snickered at that action. \"I know all about your nightly strolls. Albus isn\'t the only one that can see you under that blasted cloak, blast both Albus and James for it. Actually he can see you. I can only sense you, but cannot see you. That kind of power comes with age,\" he said.

\"But you could ... I thought that ...\" Harry said, panicking.

\"It is alright, Harry. Sometimes it is better to just let young minds have some freedom and space. Even though you had a little bit too much for my health condition,\" Severus said, putting a reassuring hand on Harry\'s shoulder. After that he straightened and said, \"now, the Headmaster awaits!\"

Harry walked the rest of the way in haze. When they entered, Albus showed them to two chairs in front of his desk.

\"How are my two favourite boys doing?!\" Albus started.

\"It would be better to go straight to the matter at hand,\" Severus said, piercing Albus with a glare.

\"Something is bothering you, Severus?\" Albus asked, smirking at Severus\' nervousness, which was an uncommon emotional display.

\"Do you have good Silencing charms on this place? If not, I think you should place them,\" Severus said to Albus.

Harry was now eyeing Severus, who in turn was getting paler by second.

\"Yes, I do! They start at the entrance after the gargoyle. But I do not see the purpose. I do not expect to raise a voice,\" Albus asserted.

\"Harry, Headmaster has something to inform you about,\" Severus said, looking away.

Harry looked curiously at his Professor, who refused to acknowledge him, and the eyes twinkling and happy smiling Headmaster, what everybody knew was not always a good sign.

Severus was getting more nervous by each passing second. /Merlin, the boy is trying to get on good terms with me, but this ... He will really hate me now, / Severus thought.

\"Harry, you know that after Sirius\' departure you will need a new guardian among wizards. I would gladly take upon that task, but ...\" Albus said, looking at Severus.

\"What?! Why not?!\" Harry said, then realized that Albus was looking at Severus.

\"But your Father had chosen the person for that task long before he died,\" Severus mumbled.

\"Who is it? Please, Headmaster, who did my Father choose? Remus?! Is it him?!\" Harry said, jumping out of the chair.

Albus waited till Harry had seated himself again. \"No, Harry, it is not Remus,\" he said, looking again at Severus.

/You old coot, you are leaving this all to me! / were Severus\' thoughts.

\"No, Harry ... James had chosen me ... He had chosen me,\" Severus said, sagging in the chair and closing his eyes. \"You can refuse. I will act as nothing transpired ...\"

\"No, Harry will not!\" Albus raised his voice. \"I agree with James\' choice ...\"

\"I will let him choose ...\" Severus disagreed.

Albus and Severus started to argue.

\"I do not have ... Can I say something ...?\" Harry tried to get a word in.

\"Albus, you cannot choose for him. He is no longer a child. I won\'t ...\" Severus started, trying to argue his standing.

\"SHUT UP, BOTH OF YOU!\" Harry screamed in rage.

Albus looked at Harry in wonder.

\"It is my choice, and ... I do not have anything against it. I accept! I would be honored to have Severus Snape as a guardian,\" Harry said and then turned to Severus. \"But wouldn\'t that endanger you?!\" he asked.

/He will have me... He will have me!!! Oh, Merlin, thank you! And he is worried about me, / Severus thought, while his whole being was jumping from happiness he was feeling.

\"Harry, are you sure?\" Severus inquired.

\"Would that make you something like a godfather?\" Harry asked, looking sheepish.

\"If you would want that ...\" Severus started, but could not finish, for Harry launched himself at him and embraced him.

\"Just promise you won\'t die on me and won\'t leave me,\" Harry sniffled.

Severus closed his arms around Harry tenderly and spoke to him. \"I cannot promise the first thing, as we live in dangerous time, but I will never leave you.\"

/Not in my wildest dreams could I hope to find a prize like this. I will never have a child of my own, but you and Draco will be treated that way. I promise that on my soul, / Severus thought.

Severus raised his eyes to meet Albus\' tender gaze, as Harry sobbed on his chest.

\"How do you feel now, Severus?\" Albus asked.

/You mean am I still frightened and nervous. Yes, I am. But for different reasons, / Severus thought.

\"I have two lost boys to take care of. To be a guardian to both of them will be a difficult task,\" he answered.

\"Oh, yes. Young Draco\'s problem. I am right to assume you have heard of his lack of a parental figure,\" Albus said, clasping his hands on his desk.

Severus pulled the sobbing Harry to sit in his lap without breaking the embrace.

\"I cannot replace his parents, nor will I try. I am not suited to be a parent. I would never know how,\" he said while stroking Harry\'s hair in a slow and loving motion.

\"Oh, yes, Severus! That I can see ... That I can see very well,\" Albus responded with a twinkle in his eyes. \"But how will Draco respond to this?\" he asked.

\"I could presume, after all that bickering that transpired in my class before it was interrupted by that wolf, that they have signed some kind of treaty. They have had time this summer to resolve their problems. And they found some mutual interests, of which I as a guardian should not know about, but ... Not so important. I believe he will not mind, maybe even be a little bit happy,\" Severus said.

\"Would that make Draco and I relatives?\" the head on Severus\' chest asked and moved.

Severus pulled back Harry\'s bangs from his face and looked in his red-rimmed eyes.

\"No, it would not. For I am not a blood relative to Draco nor to you. You can both choose to act as Cousins, if that is what you wish. For family is not in blood all the time, sometimes it is in heart, mind and soul. I would be honored to be a member of your family, Harry,\" Severus said, petting Harry\'s hair.

\"I am sorry,\" Harry said, his eyes downcast.

/No! Do not refuse me now! Nobody can be that cruel! Steel yourself, Severus! Brace yourself. Show no weakness! / Severus thought, panicked.

\"I have ruined your robes with my childish behaviour,\" Harry said looking Severus in his eyes and then grinned as hard as he could. \"Godfather! I hope you won\'t be mad at me,\" he added.

Severus could not believe his ears and simply pulled Harry closer. He hid his face in Harry\'s hair to prevent both Albus and Harry from seeing tears in his eyes.

\"Oh, you brat!\" he said affectionally. \"I have at least a dozen of others just like this one. So one more or less won\'t mean that much, Godson!\"

Harry\'s innocent smile turned into a wicked smirk and his emerald eyes twinkled mischievously. \"Can I be the one to tell Draco?!\" he asked.

/There really is a Slytherin inside this Gryffindor. And to be truthful, it frightens me as well. A Gryffindor\'s Slytherin or a Slytherin\'s Gryffindor ... Only Merlin knows what will happen! / Severus thought.

\"Yes, Harry, you may! But ...\" Severus said, smirking. \"I want to be present. But before that I need to put overkill Silencing charms on my office.\"

\"O.K., Godfather, as you wish!\" Harry complied.

\"If I knew that all it took to make you to comply to my will is to adopt you, I would have done that a very long time ago,\" Severus half mumbled.

Albus and Harry burst into laughter.

\"Just you laugh ... Just you laugh. And I want it said under my scenario,\" Severus added.

\"You, Slytherin, you! You really are a snake. You know that, don\'t you, Snape?!\" Harry said, raising an eyebrow.

\"Thank you! I try,\" Severus replied, then pushed Harry off of his lap.

\"Albus, we are leaving. Harry will be spending the rest of the day in my chambers. So it would be good to give him a leave of today\'s lessons. And find me a replacement for today. I am spending a day with my family,\" he addressed the man he considered his mentor.

Harry smiled at his words.

When they were almost out of the room, Severus turned hid head in Albus\' direction.

\"Oh, I almost forgot. Grand Draco a day off, also. I want my family whole today, if you please,\" Severus added.

\"As you wish, Severus, as you wish. Have a good day, my boys!\" Albus said, smiling at them.

With hearing those words from Albus, they left the room.


~change of POV~
(unknown person\'s POV)

Albus turned towards the place where I was standing the instant those two left his office.

\"What do you think?!\" he asked.

\"There is a great future in front of all three of them. They need each other or they will fall weak and be defeated,\" I spoke.

\"What do you think of Harry and Draco?\" he inquired.

\"Albus, I am not a fortune teller, nor am I a clairvoyant. I can sense it, but not see it. There are bonds tighter and stronger between those two then I or anybody else has ever seen, and those bonds do not speak of hate. They never actually were. But what will happen ... It is their path, their choice. And I do not wish to interfere in the natural ways. Even if I wanted to I am not allowed,\" I said calmly.

\"Oh, but they would do so much good together ...\" Albus said, dreaming.

\"Albus, you meddle more then the whole garrison of high priests that hunger for power, you old match maker,\" I said, laughing.

\"Well... thank you for the compliment,\" Albus said, smirking on a very Slytherin way.

Author\'s Note: Well ..., there\'s a thing I need to explain. For I got a review saying that the characters are a bit OOC without a reason. So here\'s the explanation: In my story Harry found a way of coping with Sirius\' falling through the veil by hanging in lots of clubs (that changes a person a lot, especially when you\'re a teen - been there, done that!) and the Dursleys just left him to his own devices. Draco got out of his snobbish background (no Death Eater father breathing down his neck, no cold-hearted mother not noticing him all the time) and found himself with new friends and idols, and in the process losing the mask he wore all his life. And Snape ... Well, who can actually say in which story he is OOC?! We do not know anything about that man\'s thought process or his way of treating the persons he cares about. And please, do not accuse me of introducing another Mary Sue. Lunette is not a Mary Sue, well at least not yet. I do not planning to magically turn her into one. So, if she ever starts to liken a Mary Sue, inform me, so I could change her back.

A/N: IT happened again. The invasion of question marks. Luckily I noticed a typing error and went to edit the chapter. Hope I chased them all away.