Chapter 24
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AFTER LESSONS, AS ADHARA, MILLICENT AND ASTORIA WERE WORKING ON ASSIGNMENTS IN THE COMMON ROOM (OWLS WERE NEAR AND HERMIONE'S NAGGING WAS GETTING TO THEM), MALFOY CAME IN RUNNING, OUT OF BREATH.

He rushed to Adhara, eyes wide. She looked at him, confused.

Malfoy has practically shed his haughty personality he had adopted this year ever since he joined the Inquisitorial Squad (not that he never was, only that he seemed to have taken it up a notch). Adhara was honestly growing tired of the boy. Although, oddly enough, he was steering clear of her. Avoiding her, averting her gaze. It was strange. He even stopped showing up to their scheduled defence meetups since they were paired together, which made things even worse because if there was one thing Draco Malfoy cared about, it was his grades.

Now, though. He focused solely on her as he talked to her with bated breaths.

"They found Montague."

Adhara's eyes doubled in size. Astoria grabbed her hand. Bletchley and Goyle, who were also in the Common Room, stood up. Crabbe looked too astounded to stand.

"What?"

"They found him jammed in a toilet. He's in the Hospital Wing. Snape says we can go see him."

Millie pushed Adhara up. "Go!"

"How did he get there?"

Malfoy shook his head. "We don't know. And he sounds confused. We can't really understand what he's saying. And he keeps talking about Quidditch."

"Of course, he is," she said, rolling her eyes. She got up from the table, leaving her stuff behind to stalk out the Common Room.

"Wait! Adhara—"

She looked at Malfoy in shock.

"He named you temporary captain."

Adhara's mouth parted open. She looked at her other teammates, who all had varying degrees of reaction. But mostly, no one seemed to really care about that right now. Montague had been missing for two days with no trace. There were more important matters to handle.

She left the Common Room, her team following right behind.

━━━━

When Remus told Harry about how his dad used to bully Snape, Harry tucked that information to get angry at later. But as he turned the corner towards his professor's office, his stomach sank.

Fuck, he thought. What do I even say? Do I say anything at all? Do I pretend not to know?

Turned out, the universe solved that particular problem for him quite quickly.

Sirius was late, and hadn't shown up, yet. Malfoy had arrived and distracted Snape with something about Montague. And the pensieve was right there.

Snape was gripping his arm tightly, and for a moment, Harry was back at Privet Drive.

"So...been enjoying yourself, Potter?"

"No! No, of course—" the grip got harsher, making Harry flinch.

Snape was baring his teeth at him. His nostrils flared as he breathed heavily. His face had turned white, but a flash of green light illuminated the side of it. Harry felt sweat drip down the back of his neck, which was odd because he was cold all over.

"Amusing man, your father, wasn't he?"

"I — didn't —"

There was another presence in the room with them, but Harry couldn't clear his mind enough to figure out who it was. He heard indistinctive shouts as Snape shook him roughly, making his glasses slip down his nose.

"You will not tell anybody what you saw!"

In the next minute, Harry found himself colliding with the floor, his ears starting to ring. When he looked up, he saw two blurry figures, fighting. Harry quickly repositioned his glasses, and in came the clear image of Sirius, his fist connecting with Snape's jaw.

Harry blinked and his view was filled with Sirius' face. There were hands on his ears, making Harry blink and swallow to turn down the ringing.

"Harry, Haz!"

Harry could hear laughter coming from behind. "Arrogant and insolent brat! Just like his father!"

"James had a big heart! He was brave! If Harry took anything after his dad it—"

Harry got up and ran.

━━━

"Harry! Harry!"

Their steps echoed throughout the empty corridor. In the back of his mind, Sirius knew he was supposed to keep away from being seen, especially Rosier. But his godson was more important to him, so he dashed behind the boy.

Though, that was it, wasn't it? Sirius needed to hide from Rosier for Harry. Because, if the man sighted Sirius, then it would compromise Snape's position as a spy, and that would dampen the whole mission, affecting Harry in the long run.

All these thoughts swirled in Sirius' mind as he ran after his godson, stuck between the need to catch the boy and prioritizing the mission.

Harry turned a corner, and Sirius cursed loudly, hoping he didn't lose the kid. Except, when he rounded the corner, Harry was right there, hands on his knees and taking in breaths. He was glaring at him.

"Harr—"

"I saw it, you know?"

Sirius, who was busy catching his breath — he wasn't the fittest of men — looked confused. What was Harry talking about?

"In the pensive. I saw Snape's memories."

"I don't think I understand, Haz. What memories are you talking about?"

"Remus told me, too. But I didn't understand how bad it was until I saw it. How you and my dad used to bully him!"

Sirius lifted both his brows in shock. They lapsed into an overwhelming silence. He wasn't too sure where to go from here. It wasn't as though he could lie here. Harry had mentioned Remus, and even if he didn't, Sirius did not want to lie to Harry.

"Haz—"

"He doesn't sound like the terrific man you make him out to be."

The boy wasn't letting him speak. Too angry, too loud, and Sirius knew just how much Harry used his anger as a shield. He wondered what emotion he was hiding from him now.

Sirius wanted to explain. He wanted to tell Harry how, though it was all true, his father had changed. He had grown up, and learned to be better. But his voice was caught in his throat.

Harry glowered, a steel edge to his voice, so very different from his usual anger. It made Sirius' stomach sink.

"You seem to want me to be my dad, but I don't think I want to be. Not when that was the type of man he was."

And with that, he left.

━━━━

Adhara stood at the foot of the cot, staring daggers at the Quidditch Captain.

"You're normally meant to be kind to the sickly, Black."

Adhara wished she could smack him with a beater's bat.

The rest of the team was scattered around him, Crabbe and Bletchley on one side, Malfoy and Goyle on the other. Astoria pushed aside Montague legs — one of which was in a cast, hefted onto a pillow — and scooted in. Despite the childish action, she sat up straight, back ram-rod, and legs crossed one over the ther over the edge.

"You're Captain, for now, Black."

"Malfoy's said. Is this really the time?"

The boy shrugged. "I might not be able to play."

Adhara scoffed, looking away.

"Course, you can," consoled Goyle. "The match with Hufflepuff isn't until May."

"Which is in a month. Pomfrey said my leg might take around six weeks. And then there's my arm. There is no way—"

"You have to play," insisted Bletchley. "It's your last match at Hogwarts."

"And only Salazar knows whether you'll get to play after you graduate," reminded Adhara rather petulantly.

The others turned to her, but she didn't care. This wasn't fair.

"What happened?" asked Crabbe.

"Snape kept insisting you were confused, and you couldn't remember," said Malfoy. "Are you actually?"

Montague's parents had come to see him right away, and the team had seen them leave. They had informed them of the same thing before leaving.

Montague's gaze flickered over all of them, landing on Adhara for a second before he looked away.

He shook his head. "I was in a Vanishing Cabinet, had to apparate out."

Adhara frowned.

"For two days?"

"Who?" questioned Adhara, instead. She looked directly at Montague.

The boy shook his head. "I honestly don't remember. Only that I was docking points from someone..." He scoffed. "It's what I get for joining such a ridiculous squad, I suppose."

Malfoy looked put off. "It isn't ridiculous."

"Yes, it is," shot back Astoria. She looked at Montague. "You still owe me new gears. I can't play properly without it."

Montague smirked. "Once exams are over. I've still got NEWTs to worry about. We can go to Hogsmeade, then."

Astoria smiled back, happy with herself for alleviating the tension. Adhara was still determined to figure out who did that to Montague.

━━━

"Adz!"

The girl whipped around, shocked. Her mouth fell open. "What are you doing here?"

Sirius was panting by the time he reached her. He grabbed her shoulders. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

Embarrassment coloured her features. Adhara looked to her side, where Sirius just noticed stood a bunch of kids, with one of them tucked in a cot.

"What are you talking about?"

"I was with Har — I mean I came for tea with McGonagall, she invited me, you see?" He gave Adhara a meaningful look and the girl nodded in understanding. "When she told me that someone from the Slytherin Quidditch was injured and in the Hospital Wing."

He looked back at the other kids. The boy in the cot had a cast on his leg, and another on his arm. And Adhara looked wholly uninjured.

"I thought it might be you. Didn't even give her the time to explain...I see that it isn't, though, now."

"No, it isn't." She stepped away from Sirius' hold, clearly avoiding to look at what he assumed was her team. Despite all the matches Sirius had attended, he seemed to not have recognized them. Narcissa's boy was right there. And so was another girl who Sirius knew to be a Greengrass.

Adhara's ears were a violent shade of red.

Sirius approached the sick boy — who he recognized now as the captain — tapping his leg. The boy flinched at the contact, making Sirius cringe.

"My apologies, I didn't think it was that—"

"No wo — worries, Lord Bl — Black."

Sirius looked sheepish.

"Uncle..."

Sirius whipped around.

"...you can leave now. I am fine," Adhara answered, firmly.

But Sirius only beamed. It didn't look like Adhara noticed what she had just called him. But Sirius was going to take what he can get, and with one of his kids mad at him currently, this was more than what he needed for the day.

━━━━

The next day, Harry marched down to the clock tower with a purpose. He turned the corner, with forceful steps, fists clenched into balls and his jaw tight. After a while, Harry noticed someone join him, matching his steps.

He was confused at first, brows knitting together, when he noticed the new feet. He looked up and saw...himself?

Harry halted in his stride.

The other person — himself — narrowed their eyes at Harry, crossing their arms and jutting their bottom lip out like a pouting child.

"Tonks."

Tonks didn't listen. She 'hmph'ed, looking away, and closing her eyes.

Harry was already in a sour mood. He exhaled exasperatedly, crossing his arms. "I do not look like that."

Tonks peaked at him, raising a brow. After a few more minutes, during which all they did was glare at each other — without any heat from Tonks' part — the Auror grinned. Her face morphed back into hers.

"You kinda do, though, sprog!"

"Was there any point to that?" said Harry, rolling his eyes.

Tonks flicked his forehead at the action. "Careful there, you'll start to look like your sister. And yes, there was a point. I was trying to make you laugh, you look like someone pissed in your tea this morning."

Harry pressed his lips together, looking away.

"Come on," she nudged him, "tell Aunty Tonks."

"Aunty?"

"Meh," she shrugged. "Had a better ring to it in my head. Though, cousin would be more accurate, I suppose."

With one last loud sigh, Harry returned to his mission. He stalked away, but Tonks decided to follow.

"Haaaaarrrrrrryyyyy...."

He didn't answer.

"Potterrrrrr — yeah, no it sounds better with Haaaarrrrry—"

He stopped, whirling around. "You aren't going to rest until I tell you, are you?"

Smiling innocently, Tonks shrugged. She shook her head.

Harry groaned, turning around and continuing his walk. Tonks, predictably, followed. Harry tried to ignore her.

He woke that morning, remembering what Fred and George did to Montague, and how Harry had avoided telling it to Adhara, for fear that she would retaliate.

Fred and George were Ron's brothers, and in some way, also Harry's friends. They were kind at times, and they did obviously care about Harry. It took them no time to treat Harry as part of the family when he first met them all, and in fact, they were the ones who gave him the Marauder's Map when they noticed that Harry was upset for not being able to go to Hogsmeade.

So, yes. The twins were kind. They could be kind. It was why Harry hadn't told Adhara about what they had done because Adhara didn't know them like Harry did.

But now he saw what his father had done to Snape, and wasn't that the same logic? Harry didn't know James Potter the same way as Sirius knew the man, and it was very possible that he had been a kind man. Though, that didn't change the fact that what he had done was cruel.

It didn't change the fact what Fred and George had done was cruel.

To be honest, Harry didn't think the boys had thought their actions through. They definitely did only want to make people laugh. They didn't have bad intentions.

But perhaps that was the problem. When the line between pranks and cruelty became blurry, things became a problem.

Thus, Harry woke up that morning, and decided to hunt Adhara down. He checked the map — which his sister had returned with a sticky note with a grimace drawn on it — and found that Adhara and Hermione were at the clock tower for some reason (a quick glance at the Hospital Wing showed Milliecent's name).

Tonks was still watching him. He could feel her gaze.

Harry gave in. "Occlumency is terrible," he whispered.

Tonks hummed.

"Snape is a pain."

"No truer words have been said."

"And I just... I found why he is a pain.I...I looked into the pensive where he stored his memories."

"Yikes. Probably shouldn't have done that."

Harry sighed again. "Yes, well. Found out my dad was a jerk."

"Ahh," she responded understandably. "My mum used to tell me stories about cousin Sirius. I'm assuming your dad was the same."

"You mean how they used to bully Snape."

Tonks hummed again.

"I don't like bullies, Tonks. My cousin used to bully me."

"You do know that Snape wasn't any better, right? He's returned any punch he received. Metaphorically, that is. I don't think Snape knows how to punch."

"It doesn't matter!" Harry whipped around again, looking at Tonks with wild eyes. She had returned to her normal height, about an inch shorter than Harry. "I don't care what Snape did! I care what my dad did! I mean, how can people look up to him so much when this was the kind of person he was!"

Tonks simply stared at Harry, giving him the time to let it all out. Her grin was gone, replaced with a sincere expression.

"You should, though."

Harry scoffed.

"Listen. I've met your dad, you know? During the first war? I must've been seven or eight, at the time. I was staying with Sirius and James was of course there and..." She looked into Harry's eyes. "He was a good man, Harry."

"Yes, but—"

"And he may not have been when he was in school, but! He changed, didn't he? And Snape? Well, I had him as a teacher, too Harry. And let me tell you that hasn't changed one bit."

Harry pursed his mouth, still unconvinced...

"I'm not going to tell you how you should feel, that is entirely up to you. But maybe that is something to consider, don't you?"

And...maybe it was...but that didn't change the fact that Harry was still angry. And anger was too familiar and comforting right now for him to let it go.

━━━━

"Why are you out of breath?"

"Why are you two at the clock tower?"

Adhara shrugged her shoulders, turning to...a platter of carrots and celery and ranch? What the fuck?

Hermione smiled at Harry, offering him a celery stick.

Harry shook his head, eyes squinting. He turned to Adhara. "Look, I found out something yesterday. And well, it made me realize that there's something I've been hiding from you that I should've told you and—"

"Just blurt it out."

"My dad was a bully."

Hermione's mouth fell open. "What?"

"To whom," said Adhara instead. She took a bite of celery as she looked at Harry.

"Snape."

"What?" asked Hermione eloquently.

"Ohh, that makes so much sense...wait but then why does he hate me?"

"Sirius."

"Of course." Adhara rolled her eyes.

"What?!"

Harry sighed, looking at Hermione. "My dad. Bully. Snape. Keep up. Anyway." He turned to Adhara, again. "I found out yesterday and kinda fought with Sirius about it and—"

"Is that why he looked sad when he came to see me?"

"He came to see you?" asked Hermione.

"Yeah, he found out someone on the team was at the Hospital Wing and assumed it was me. Bit of a jump in conclusion I'd you asked me but..."

"Oh, how's Montague, by the way? Any better?"

"He thinks he won't be able to play next month, which umm no. How am I supposed to find a chaser in a month? And we're leaving for the spring hols on Friday, in no way—"

"Speaking of Montague!" shouted Harry over the two other girls. They gave him a judgemental look, but Harry did not care. He grabbed Hermione's arm. "We know what happened to him."

Hermione's eyes went wide at the confession, looking at Adhara worryingly.

Adhara's stayed quiet for a moment, looking between the two with narrowed eyes. "And you waited until now to tell me? I told you about how Montague was missing days ago."

"I know! And I'm sorry! I didn't know, and I know that ain't an excuse and—"

"Harry."

Harry took a deep breath. "I thought because they probably didn't mean it to get this bad that it didn't matter but...well, now I know that doesn't matter."

Adhara scowled. "Who?"

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A/N

I love how much of a complex character Snape is. But I do hate him as a person. And I know Harry's inner thoughts can sound conflicting to readers during the scene between Harry and Snape. James was a douche but then got his head out of his ass and got better, but in the same way Snape was an idiot who joined Voldemort, and yes it took Lily's death to realize he was wrong, but at least he did and now his atoning for it by risking his life as a spy (I still dislike him but we'll get to that later). But Harry doesn't know just how far Snape will go as a spy, yet, so he's allowed to hate him.

As for Snape, I do dislike him, but I feel like people dislike him for the wrong reasons? He was loyal to Voldemort, told about the prophecy and didn't care that James and Harry would die as long as Lily was alive. Yes, hate him for that. That's disgusting behaviour. But then seeing as how his actions caused Lily's death and becoming a spy as a way to atone, that isn't a bad thing? Neither was loving Lily. He's allowed to love Lily, that isn't something you can hate him for. BUT it is unfortunate that it took her dying for Snape to realize he was wrong (and you can hate him for that, I certainly do).

But the main reason why I hate him so much is because if the way he treated his students. It isn't normal that Neville's biggest fear is Snape when his parents were tortured to insanity by Bellatrix. And Snape's treatment towards Harry is even more appalling. And why? Because Harry is James' son and looks exactly like the man? It's obvious how Snape wants to get revenge for how James treated him (which is terrible and he's allowed to be upset over it even though James got better). But to get back at him through his innocent son is entirely wrong.

Also, I hate how he treats Sirius and Remus. Like I get it, they bullied you, you hate them. But considering you joined a fucking fascist and killed a bunch of innocents at your grown age while they knew what was wrong and right by that age, I'd say they win. 

Basically, I don't dislike him for switching sides and for loving Lily. I do dislike him for it taking her dying to realize he was wrong, for his treatment towards Remus and Sirius and his students especially Harry. 

Now that we establish that I do dislike hate Severus (though love him as a complex character, and I do like reading stories where he gets a redemption but like, at the right time and if it's well written, not however Rowbitch wrote it), let's move to the next section.

Snape vs Regulus. Oh, but how can you hate Snape when you like Regulus? Because Regulus Black grew up in a household where he was fed bloodpurist bullshit down his throat since he was a baby (not an excuse, he was still terrible at the stage of life, he could've changed just look at Sirius), while Severus grew up with Lily fucking Evans, muggleborn witch who was the only person to ever show kindness to him and yet he still chose to join Voldemort. They aren't the same. (And obviously this is very simple comparison, but I'm in no mood to write 1k words on this right now.)

And also, because we will never know how Regulus would've become if he continued to live. He didn't get the chance to. He died right as he redeemed himself, and didn't get to live longer to become a bad person so there isn't any reason to hate him. While, Snape redeemed himself by realizing he was wrong and switching sides (much like Regulus) but then continued to bully children to make himself feel powerful. So there is a reason to hate him.

Anyways, I could go on. I could write an essay. I might write an essay because I'm nerdy like that. But whatever.