Snape sat at the kitchen table, eyeing the teenager across from him carefully. It had been three days since the last Order meeting and with another one scheduled for that evening, the man had been carefully considering Harry's request to join them.

He could hardly help but feel protective of his child. He hated to think of what Harry could hear in the meeting but not nearly as much as he disliked the idea of what of the boy becoming too curious and finding himself in trouble.

Harry looked up as he felt his guardian's eyes on him. He swallowed his mouthful of vegetables before opening his mouth to speak. "What?"

Snape shook his head as he picked up his glass, taking a long swallow of water. He forced himself to focus his attention elsewhere. He had to admit that aside from the eavesdropping incident at the last meeting, Harry had been fairly well behaved lately. In all honesty, the teenager had been fairly well behaved since the maze incident. There was no denying that Harry was growing up and maturing.

"You're doing it again." Harry's nose scrunched up slightly. "You just keep staring at me."

The man hummed softly before clearing his throat. "I have been giving your request quite a bit of thought." He set his glass back down on the table, his eyes not leaving his child.

"My request?" Harry questioned, making a face at the words. He had no idea what the man was talking about. He did, however, know that Snape was acting weird and he wasn't fond of it.

Snape's right eyebrow rose at the teenager's words. "Were you not requesting to join the Order meetings?"

Harry sat up a bit straighter at the words. Of course he had been requesting that but he hadn't thought for a moment that Snape would be ready to talk about it so soon. "Yeah." He nodded. "I was...I mean, I am."

"If I allow you to do so there will be rules."

"Okay," Harry quickly agreed before the words even registered in his mind. He frowned slightly a moment later. "Like what?"

"I expect you to be respectful of everyone during these meetings, regardless of whether you agree with what is being said. You can disagree without being disrespectful."

Harry nodded, his frown remaining. "I know that. I wouldn't be disrespectful to anyone."

"I also want you to understand that there may be some meetings that you will not be permitted to attend." Snape gave the boy a serious look. "Once school begins you will not be allowed to miss class for a meeting nor will you put off any assignments to attend a meeting."

"Okay," Harry quickly agreed though he was fairly certain he would agree to just about anything if it meant he could attend the meetings.

Snape was silent for a long moment before he gave a small nod. "I will allow you to attend the meeting this evening. Do not make me regret this decision."

"Really?" The teenager's frown instantly vanished, a large grin taking over his face. "You won't regret it. I promise! I swear." He paused for a moment. The last thing he wanted was to push his luck, still he had to know. "Can I still go early to see Sirius?"

Snape gave a nod without hesitation. "I believe our agreement was that you could go two hours early today considering there were no issues last time."

"Thanks Snape." Harry grinned. He couldn't help but think that it was shaping up to be a really good day.

Snape looked over at his child before his eyes moved to Arthur. The man hoped that he had made the right decision in allowing Harry to attend the meetings. The last thing Snape even wanted to consider was the idea that Harry would eventually have to fight. That the meetings were preparing him, in some way, for just that.

Snape could not deny that so far his child had been exceptionally well behaved during the meeting thus far. It likely helped that the man had promised the teenager that if he found himself unable to do so he could go right back upstairs with his friends. Just as it did not hurt that every adult in the room adored Harry. The patience and care that was taken with him was exceptional.

Still, the first meeting with Harry present had gone much better than Snape had expected. Now with the meeting winding down the man felt relief flooding his body.

"Your meetings are going well then too Severus?" Molly looked over at the man.

"Severus has -"

"Ah, Albus," Snape quickly cut the Headmaster off with a shake of his head. The man's eyes moved to Remus giving him a nod of his head before his eyes moved back to the Headmaster. "I think perhaps this conversation should be paused for a moment while Remus escorts Harry home."

Harry had been listening carefully throughout the meeting, only choosing to speak when he felt he had something to say on the matter being discussed. If he felt something didn't sound right or even possible, he was not going to let it go unsaid. He had made sure, however, to do so respectfully as he promised Snape he would.

His eyes shifted to his guardian as Mrs. Weasley spoke, glancing quickly between Dumbledore and Snape as the man's request washed over him. Home? But the meeting was perhaps only half over! "What?" He had to have heard his guardian wrong, looking to Remus as he heard the man stand from next to him. "Wait, no. I'm not leaving." Harry glared over to his guardian, ignoring Remus' gentle tap on his back. A silent warning.

"Surely he does not have to leave," Sirius spoke up, only causing Snape to become more annoyed with the situation.

The man's eyes narrowed on his child as he shook his head firmly. "Go with Remus please, Harry. I will not be far behind you."

Remus gently tapped the teenager's back once more. "Come on Harry." The man found himself hoping that Harry complied with the request without further argument.

"No." He moved away from the touch, eyes remaining locked with his guardian's. "Sirius is right." Harry knew he was playing with fire, agreeing with his godfather's words before Snape's in such an instant moment. Aside from that, he had promised not even six hours ago that he would behave. That he wouldn't give Snape a reason to regret allowing him to attend. Still, he couldn't stop himself. "I shouldn't have to leave."

"Harry." The name came out of Snape's mouth in a warning tone despite his trying to keep his voice normal.

"Let's go please Harry." Remus glared over at Sirius. "We can discuss it alone."

Snape was suddenly all too aware that every other adult in the room was beginning to look uncomfortable.

"Oh sure." Harry stood, eyes remaining on Snape despite the other adults in the room. "To discuss how hiding information will keep me completely safe. Like it has before...git." The sarcasm dripped from his voice as he rolled his eyes. His gaze finally broke away from Snape, moving away from Remus rather roughly as he stepped around the man.

Snape swallowed hard, forcing his temper to remain under control as he continued to glare at his child.

"Thank you," Remus breathed out softly. He placed a gentle hand between the boy's shoulder blades as he began leading him out of the room.

"Leave me alone," he snapped harshly, stepping away from Remus' touch with a quick brush to push his arm away. Harry stepped out of the room, glaring down to his shoes as he moved into the large sitting room with the main fireplace.

"Now just calm down." Remus reached up to the mantle, taking a handful of the floo powder. "I am sure Severus has good reason for asking you to leave."

"Finding any reason to not have me here," Harry responded bitterly as he stepped into the fireplace with Remus. "I'll always be a damn child to him."

Remus dropped the floo powder, a moment later stepping into Snape's parlor. "He has allowed you to attend the meetings. That must count for something Harry."

"He didn't want me to since the start. Now he did that to make it so I can't." Stepping into the parlor, Harry moved over to the couch and sat down with a loud exhale. "He has no right! He's the one that gets the useful info but then he kicks me out before I can know anything." He huffed out a breath. "Maybe he wants me to die fighting Voldemort."

He knew the words weren't true, but somehow they came so easily.

"Harry James," Remus breathed in a harsh tone. "You know that is not true." The man gave the teenager an exasperated look. "I think you are overreacting. This was a single moment. I am sure it will not happen often or again at all."

Harry only rolled his eyes, rested his head on the back of the couch as he stared across the room. He had been perfectly fine and content at the meeting. Snape was the one overreacting!

"You need to calm down." Remus sat down in Snape's armchair. "If you have this attitude with your guardian when he returns I do not foresee it playing out well."

The teenager kept his gaze forward before it dropped down to his knees. "It's his own fault."

Remus let out an exasperated breath at the words. "I am sorry Harry but you are overreacting just a bit."

"Of course," he replied angrily, rolling his eyes, "But being overprotective isn't overreacting then?"

"He is your parent. He is certainly within his right to be protective of you." Remus fought to keep his tone normal. "What was that cheek when he asked you to leave?"

Harry fell silent before only shrugging. "Don't overreact about it," he muttered with as much attitude as he dared, resting his cheek against the back of the couch.

"And why is it that you are angry with me?" Remus leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as his eyes remained on the boy.

Harry blinked a few times before his eyes settled on his feet. "I don't know," he replied softly, his own arms resting on his legs. The rush of anger he had felt had suddenly dissipated and now he only felt the eel within his stomach twisting in laps.

Remus was silent for several long moments as he watched the teenager. He could imagine that his position was frustrating. However, he could not imagine that his guardian would easily excuse his behavior.

"Harry," Remus started in a soft voice. "I think ..." the man's voice trailed off as the floo roared to life.

Snape stepped out of the fireplace, his eyes narrowing on his child. "Up to your room. Now."

Harry stilled as the floo roared, deciding his knee was much more interesting as his thumb ran over it. "No." He took in a breath, blinking at his own response. There was no taking it back.

Snape quickly moved across the room, ignoring the fact that Remus was present at all. The man leaned down, placing a hand on either side of his child, putting his own face close to Harry's and effectively blocking any chance the boy had of leaving. "What did you just say to me?"

"Snape..." Harry uttered in a hushed tone, turning his head away from the man as his guardian hovered over him.

"Absolutely not!" The man did not move so much as an inch. "What is this behavior?"

Harry took in a breath, only shaking his head as he kept his eyes down and away from the man. The bravado he had felt quickly diminishing.

"Nothing to say for yourself now young man? You had plenty to say earlier." The man raised a stern eyebrow. "When I tell you to do something I expect it done without any cheek. Is that clear?"

"I get it," Harry muttered, turning his head to press against the back of the couch once more. "Fine."

"Then we will try this again." Snape stood up straight. He took a firm hold on Harry's arm, pulling him from the couch. "Go to your room." The man turned the child to the side landing a hard stinging smack to his backside. "Now!" He released his grip on the teenager.

Harry heard the released breath from behind his guardian, his jaw tightening slightly. Snape had not only smacked him, he had smacked him in front of Remus! He turned slightly, hurt and embarrassment flushing his cheeks. He wanted to argue with the man. To tell him off for what he did! But a glance towards Remus made the teenager simply take in a hitched breath before turning away. "Git," he breathed watery, moving across the parlor.

"Harry James.." Remus took in a fresh breath.

Snape felt the guilt wash over him at the look on his child's face, however, he quickly forced it away. The teenager's behavior was completely unacceptable. When he heard Harry mutter the insult, he forced himself to refrain from stepping up behind him and landing another half dozen smacks to the disobedient backside. "Keep your mouth closed and go to your room before you find yourself standing in the corner for the next three quarters of an hour young man!"

Harry's chin quivered slightly as he moved up the stairs, closing his eyes briefly at the sound of his guardian's tone. "Stop yelling at me!" He finally snapped back, pausing mid step on the stairs and looking down towards the parlor.

"I am going to do much more than yell if you do not start listening." Snape gave the boy a stern look. "Go. I will be up in just a moment."

Harry swallowed heavily, turning back and continuing up the stairs. He fought the urge to simply slam the door behind himself but he chose to not even bother shutting it at all. It wouldn't keep Snape out. He collapsed onto the bed, arms curling under his pillow as a coughed sob finally shook his shoulders.

Remus released his breath slowly, stepping up to Snape's side.

"The utter cheek on that child." Snape shook his head. "What is wrong with him?" The man looked at Remus in question.

Remus shook his head faintly, closing his eyes as his hand rose to pinch the bridge of his nose. "I don't know... a terrible overreaction?" Dropping his hand down, Remus looked up the stairs before moving to the couch with a sigh. "He seemed to think that was the absolute end of him going to meetings and you had him removed so he cannot go back."

Snape glanced up at the staircase before moving and sitting in his armchair. "Did I say that? I simply did not want him there while the Death Eater meetings were discussed, which is my right."

"I know." Remus shook his head slowly, leaning back as he sat. "I didn't quite understand his reasonings at all."

"He will be lucky if I don't go up there and tan his backside for him." Snape scowled slightly. "He knows better than to speak to me or you like that."

"He does... but he hasn't acted out in some time, has he? At least not around me." He chuckled softly. "He was angry with me as well, but he didn't know why." The same smile faded down to a frown. "I'm sure it's all simply a matter of overreacting."

"You did not receive any sort of apology from him for his behavior?" The man could hardly keep the aggravation out of his tone.

"It was right before you arrived." Remus shook his head slowly. "Do not get me wrong, he had started to look remorseful." He gave the other a sad smile. "But we were just short of the apology."

Snape let out an annoyed huff as he glared up at the staircase. The man was silent for a long moment before he cleared his throat. "Was I wrong in removing him from the meeting?"

Remus fell silent, watching his friend for a moment before he cleared his throat. "That's not something I can decide, Severus. There must have been a reason for you wanting to remove him? You simply didn't want him to know what is said at your own meetings?"

Snape nodded once in reply. "Correct. There are things that are discussed that Harry does not need to know. As his parent, is it not my right to protect him as I see fit?"

"Of course it is." Remus took in a breath, carefully thinking through his next words for a moment. The last thing he intended was to make it seem he didn't support the decision. "I suppose I would just think about what exactly you're protecting him from. What are you afraid would happen if he listened?"

"There are just things that he does not need to know...to hear." Nevermind the fact that the man had not been to a meeting. He had been ignoring the calls to them altogether. However, he did not need anyone to know that. He certainly did not need Harry to make an entire room full of people aware of that.

"I'm going to ask you this, and I do not want you to take any offense to it Severus, but you had given the same reasoning of wanting him to not join the meetings." He gave a sad smile at the words. "So it leaves me to assume you simply don't want him to hear because it involves you?"

Snape raised an eyebrow at the words. "Perhaps you are correct. However, as I have already said, and you agreed, it is my right as his parent to make that decision."

"It is... I'm simply curious as to the reasoning behind it. He knows you have quite a serious job that you do. What do you think would happen if he learns what is said at them?" He tilted his head just slightly, resting his chin in his palm.

"It is not about what he would learn." Snape shook his head as he leaned back slightly in his chair. "I am simply not ready for him to see that part of me so clearly. Yet again, I believe I am well within my rights as his parent to make that decision. I have allowed him to attend the meetings. I have made some compromise."

"And again, I am in no way arguing against that. I'm only trying to understand. I doubt you will ever be ready for him to see that part of your life." The small frown returned, as he watched Snape.

"It is certainly something that I need to do in my own time." Snape gave a nod as his eyes traveled towards the staircase once more. "He will just have to understand that."

Remus hummed, eyes following towards the stairs as well. "I'm sure he will, even if not immediately"

"Regardless of whether he understands it, he will speak to both you and I with respect." The man stood from his armchair. "I intend to go deal with his behavior. If you are not in a hurry, I can send him down to speak to you and apologize when our discussion is over."

He gave a slow nod, sighing softly. "I am in no rush. I still do not envy you, Severus." Remus shook his head, resting his hand down.

Snape moved towards the staircase with a small sigh. "I do not blame you. I am not a fan of this part of my job either." The man's voice was low as he started up the stairs.

A moment later he walked into Harry's bedroom, moving to sit on the edge of the teenager's bed. "It seems we have quite a bit to discuss Harry."

Harry looked over to Snape as the man entered, pushing himself up with a shuddering sigh. He leaned back against his headboard, holding his pillow close to his front as he looked down to it. His thumb ran across the case of it slowly. "Okay."

Snape raised an eyebrow at the teenager feeling relief wash over him. He had expected Harry's cheek and defiance to still be evident, however, it appeared to be long gone. "What was that behavior?" The man could hardly help the sternness of his tone. "I am fairly certain that when I tell you to do something, no , is not an acceptable answer."

"You weren't being fair." Harry adjusted his hold on the pillow, looking down to it with his own frown. "At all."

Snape's hand moved, reaching out to firmly tap the teenager's chin. "How was I so unfair?"

Harry shifted his legs up, tilting his chin away before resting it upon the pillow to look up at the man. "You told me I can join the meetings and then you kick me out."

"I asked you to leave for the last ten minutes of a meeting. I do not think I would classify that as kicking you out." The man frowned.

"Well I do," Harry replied, looking back down to the top of the bed with a shrug.

"You are certainly allowed to feel that way, however, you are not allowed to speak to me, or Remus, the way that you did in a response to it. I feel as though we have had this conversation quite a few times haven't we?" The man's hand reached out to tap the underside of the boy's chin once more.

Harry cringed slightly, looking back up to Snape at the gentle tap. "Yeah. I'm sorry though," he quickly added, taking in a breath.

"Perhaps I have been too lenient with you these past few months?" Snape raised an eyebrow at the teenager. "You can certainly go fetch the paddle and be bent over my knee and reminded of your manners if you think for a moment that your behavior was acceptable."

"No." Harry shook his head once, moving his legs slightly away before crossing them. "I've been trying my best, really."

"Your behavior tonight certainly was not your best." Snape gave the child a firm look. "And from what I understand it continued with Remus after you arrived home? It was absolutely still present when I arrived home." The man frowned as he reached out and tapped the boy's chin a bit more firmly. "I should send you downstairs to fetch the paddle."

Harry tilted his head away, resting it back down onto the pillow with a released huff of breath. "I can't just instantly stop being annoyed."

"I do not believe I requested that you do so." Snape raised an eyebrow as he leaned forward slightly, putting his own face closer to his child's. "I am telling you that regardless of how you feel, you will not act as you did towards me or Remus."

"Okay. I won't." Harry breathed, glancing up as Snape leaned close. "But why didn't you let me stay?"

"It is at my discretion whether or not you will be present for every single conversation that takes place at these meetings." Snape gave the child a serious look. "If that is not to your liking you can certainly stop attending the meetings altogether."

Harry made a slight face at the words before looking back down towards the pillow. "No. I want to keep going."

"Remus seemed to think that you were under the impression that I was not going to allow you to go at all anymore." Despite his tone still being serious, it came out much less stern than it had been.

Harry frowned, shrugging a shoulder up at the words before replying, "Wouldn't surprise me."

"That is not my intention." Snape shook his head. "I understand that you must feel frustrated with this all." He moved a hand to rest gently on the teenager's knee. "However, as your parent it is hard to transition into allowing you to know as much as you do. I am doing my best Harry."

A small grin pulled across the teenager's face at the words, looking up to Snape. "Lot has changed in a couple years, huh?" He was sure Snape wouldn't have been so careful with what he heard if he had never become his guardian in the first place.

"Indeed it has." The man hummed softly. His hand moved, gently tapping the underside of the boy's chin. "Now what is to be done about that cheek of yours? Hmm?"

"Forgive me?" Harry tested softly, shoulders slouching down with a sigh.

"You know that you are always forgiven. That is not the issue." Snape gave the child a stern glare. "The issue is that this seems to be behavior that has been quite the problem lately."

"Not really." A small scowl crossed the teenager's face as he leaned back against his headboard. "You admitted yourself that the past few days you have been cranky and stressed too. It wasn't always my fault."

Snape was silent for a long moment as he thought over the child's words. He couldn't deny that they were true. Nor could he deny the small amount of guilt that he still felt at swatting the boy in front of Remus. A moment later, he cleared his throat softly. "If it happens again I am not going to be happy at all Harry. Nor will that backside of yours."

Harry shook his head, stretching his legs back out slowly. "It won't. Swear." His expression remained serious, eyes staying on his guardian.

"You are going to go downstairs in a moment and apologize to Remus." Snape's expression became stern. "He is far too good to you to be treated so poorly."

A grimace crossed the boy's face, sparing a quick look down before back up to the man. "Yeah... love Remus," he breathed softly, rubbing his hands across his pillow idly.

"I know that you do. However, you certainly did not show that tonight." Snape's hand moved to tap the boy's knee.

Sighing, Harry placed his pillow off to the side before turning and sitting up properly. "He's still here?"

"He is." Snape gave a nod as he sat up a bit straighter. "Go apologize and then get yourself back up here and in bed."

Harry nearly wanted to argue it was still too early to go to bed. It wasn't even nine yet. Yet he swallowed his words. Snape was letting him off very lightly and the last thing he wanted was to push his luck. "Okay," he agreed, standing before leaning over to give Snape a brief hug around his neck. "Thanks for not going mental."

Snape hummed softly as he wrapped his arms around the boy. A moment later his right hand traveled down to firmly swat the boy's rear end. "Get that look off of your face. An earlier bedtime is hardly a punishment at all and you know it."

Harry yelped at the sudden assault, moving himself away completely from the man with a scowl. It had hardly hurt but it was certainly unexpected. "I wasn't gonna complain."

"I know exactly what you were thinking." Snape gave the boy a serious look. "Go on now before I change my mind about giving you a more serious consequence."

Frown remaining, Harry took a few steps back before turning away completely. Stepping out of his room, the teenager walked slowly back down the stairs before peering down into the parlor.

Remus had remained on the couch, his back to the staircase. At some point, the man had picked up the book that had been sitting on the coffee table and was now flipping through it. If Snape's anger had been any indication he was sure he would be waiting to speak to a very tearful Harry for some time.

"Remus?" Harry stepped down fully into the parlor, glancing behind him briefly before looking back to the man on the couch. He gave a small smile, moving and taking a seat down next to him.

"Harry." The man gave the teenager a grin as he closed the book and leaned forward placing it back on the coffee table. He was pleased to see that it didn't appear that the child had been crying at all. "Feeling a bit better about things I hope?"

"Yeah... and he didn't murder me." Harry grinned, leaning against Remus' side slightly. "I'm sorry though. I wasn't mad at you, really."

"I didn't think you were angry with me." Remus' tone was soft as he looked at the teenager. "I was only confused as to why you were taking it out on me. I suppose that comes with the teenage territory though."

Harry's cheeks flushed at the words, looking down to the table as he shrugged up his shoulders. Maybe it did. "I'm still sorry."

"You are forgiven." Remus' hand moved to rest gently on the boy's knee. "I will refrain from lecturing you on your actions as well as I am sure that Severus did enough of that for both of us."

"Doubt he's done," Harry uttered softly, glancing over towards the stairs for a moment before looking back to Remus.

"Then I definitely don't need to add to it do I?" Remus gently patted the boy's knee. "I know it will not happen again."

He shook his head, curling his arm briefly around the man. "Thanks."

"Of course." Remus turned his head, leaning down slightly and placing a kiss on the child's forehead.

Harry closed his eyes, sighing as he rested his head down on Remus' shoulder for a brief moment. His previous annoyance and anger was now long gone, as if it hadn't even existed. "I gotta go though. Will you be by tomorrow?"

"I can stop by if you would like. As long as Severus doesn't mind that is." The man patted the boy's knee gently once more.

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind." Harry shrugged up his shoulders before releasing his grip on the man and standing.

"We shall see." Remus gave the boy a soft smile. "Where are you off to now? Doing something fun before bed?"

Harry released a small, huffed breath. "No. Not unless you count being forced to go to bed early as fun," he muttered, moving around the couch and resting a hand against the back of it. "But I guess I can't complain."

"No, given how cross Severus was you certainly cannot complain." Remus looked back at the teenager. "Goodnight then Harry. Sleep well."

"Night." Harry hummed, stepping away from the couch and up the stairs. He couldn't help but feel content. Despite it happening many times in the past, it still amazed him how easily both his guardian and Remus could forgive him. Stepping up the staircase, he moved into his bedroom with a sigh.

Snape heard the child step onto the second floor, moving towards the teenager's bedroom moments later. "I sent Minka to take out Bane, she will send him up after."

"Thanks." Harry sighed as he went to his dresser, removing a pair of pajamas. "Can Remus come over tomorrow?"

"Of course, Remus is welcome anytime." Snape sat down on the edge of the boy's bed. "Is he coming over for some specific reason or just to visit?"

Changing rather quickly, he adjusted his pajama shirt slightly as he pulled his blankets back. "Just visit. He said he'd need to know from you before he committed." Harry sat down before tucking his legs under the blanket and laying back.

Snape hummed softly as he tucked the blanket up over the teenager. "He is always welcome here. I will be sure to remind him of that."

Taking hold of the blanket, Harry rolled over onto his side and tucked it under his chin with a nod. "Really thanks for not going mental."

"I will keep in mind that what occurred downstairs is not considered going mental to you." Snape gave the boy a pointed look.

Harry's cheeks flushed at the words, looking down briefly with a frown. He had nearly forgotten what the man had done. "You shouldn't have done that."

Snape raised an eyebrow at the words. "Perhaps you should have listened when I came home and sent you to your room?"

"But Remus was still here." Harry tightened his blanket around himself.

"What does Remus being here have to do with anything?" Snape's hand rested on the boy's knee.

"You smacked me in front of him." Harry gave a small scowl, curling his legs up. He could feel the heat spreading down his cheeks.

"Have you not been aware for some time now that if you misbehave in Remus' presence I have no qualms about doing so?" Snape patted the boy's knee gently.

"Still." Harry lifted his head briefly and placed his glasses on the side table. Resting his head back down, the teenager rolled into his stomach before closing his eyes. "It was embarrassing, Snape."

"Remus has always been aware of how you are disciplined." Snape's hand moved to rest on the small of the child's back.

"Still," Harry emphasized, leaning his back slightly towards his guardian for easier access. "Doesn't mean I want him to see."

"I am sure that you don't." Snape's hand moved to gently rub the teenager's back. "I would suggest that you behave then." The man hummed softly.

Harry fell silent at the words, simply rubbing his face against his pillow for a quiet moment. It wasn't worth arguing about. He knew when it came to Remus he would not win. It was almost as if the man was family anyway. "Love you."

"I love you very much." Snape's hand moved up the boy's back, rubbing between his shoulder blades.

"I'm not gonna fall asleep soon." Despite his words, Harry wrapped his arms under the pillow.

"That is fine." Snape's fingertips gently tapped the boy's back. "Is there something you want to discuss or you simply are not tired?"

"I'm just not tired." He shook his head faintly, smiling slightly before humming. "Come in before you go to bed?"

"Of course." Snape patted the teenager's back gently before standing. "Do not get out of bed unless you need the lavatory," the man reminded the boy before leaning down and placing a kiss on his temple.

"Mm... fine," he breathed, yawning while stretching out his legs.

"I will be back in a bit." Snape waved a hand causing the room to darken as Bane ran through the door and jumped up onto the bed a moment later.

Harry grinned as he felt the paws move around the bed before his pet slumped against his side with a huff. "Okay." He moved a hand down, rubbing at Bane's side affectionately.

Remus had picked up the book once more, flipping through the pages. He had been quite pleasantly surprised that Harry had been, overall, fine after the outburst.

Snape moved out of Harry's bedroom and down the hall. A moment later, stepping into the parlor. "Though I am sure that he will still be awake for quite some time, Harry is in bed." The man sat down in his armchair. "Where he will remain."

Remus glanced up at the sound of footsteps, closing the book at Snape stepped into the parlor. "And no tears it seemed?"

"No tears." Snape shook his head. "Quite a bit of embarrassment over the idea that he was disciplined in front of you, however."

Remus gave a hum, placing the book to his side before sighing quite heavily. It was certainly something that he intended to never bring up to the teenager. "I'll be honest, I wasn't surprised. I'm not sure what he expected to happen either."

"I will be honest and say that I do feel some guilt over it." Snape sighed softly. "However, he knows better than to speak to me in such a way. Just as he knows better than to behave as he did for you."

"He does. Though it is rare he shows that behavior with me." He smiled sadly, resting his hand on the arm of the couch. "How was he upstairs?"

"Apologetic and far less cheeky which saved his rear end." Snape leaned back slightly in his chair. "And you are correct, it is rare behavior for him. However, I was not about to let it go."

"Overreactions can be quite destructive, I suppose. I'm sure he's not banned from joining the meetings like he thought?" A grin tugged across the man's face. Trust the teenager to jump to wild conclusions.

"Not at all." Snape shook his head. "Though we did discuss the fact that it is my decision whether he leaves the room should I feel he needs to do so during a meeting."

Remus raised a brow curiously at the words. "And? What did he say about that?"

"He is not happy about it which does not surprise me. However, he did agree to do so should the need arise,," Snape explained, "which is all I can ask."

Chuckling, Remus leaned back with a soft breath. "He also mentioned wanting to have me stop by tomorrow. Perhaps if he feels up for it, we can practice a few proper spells."

"Of course," Snape nodded. "You are always welcome Remus, you know that."

"I'm not inviting myself over, Severus. This is your home." He cleared his throat, pushing himself up. "Although I will take my leave for now. I need to have a bit of a discussion with Sirius as well." He couldn't have his best mate questioning Snape's words when it came to Harry. He simply couldn't allow a new rift to start in some way.

"You are not inviting yourself over. I believe Harry invited you and this is his house as well." Snape gave the man a soft smile. "Have a good evening Remus. I will see you tomorrow."

TBC...