Chapter 23 – Stupid Ron

Thanks a lot to my beta-readers, Orodruin and AmyLouise, for correcting my mistakes.

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to J.K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story.

Chapter 23 – Stupid Ron

"How was your meeting with your friends yesterday?" Severus asked while spooning his soup.

"Oh, it was good. Ron apologized for his reaction in the hospital wing. They liked my room, and Hermione brought me school work to catch up with," Harry told Severus enthusiastically.

"And what about your conversation with James?" Severus asked, eyeing Harry closely.

Harry sighed and stirred his soup indifferently with his spoon. "He gave me the applicator and spoke with Ron and Hermione about what to do when I get one of those damn attacks."

"They are not 'damn' attacks, Harry. Don't speak so disparagingly about you or your problems," Severus said, scolding.

"Yeah," Harry replied grumpily and spooned soup into his mouth.

"Anything else?" Severus asked.

"You already know. Why do you ask?" Harry asked sullenly.

"Because I want to hear it from you. And stop playing with your food, Harry!" Severus said acidly.

"Yes, sir," Harry, mumbled. He spooned soup in his mouth and then answered Severus' question in a small voice. "He also told me that I'm not allowed to play Quidditch."

"And how did you take that?"

Harry groaned. "I know that it could be dangerous during a game. It's very frightening to have these attacks. I don't want to have one while playing Quidditch and then let them all see what a fr..." Harry lowered his head. "Sorry."

"It's hard to give up old habits, but you have to understand that you aren't a freak, Harry. Your panic attacks aren't something to be ashamed of. You will learn to control them, but you have to accept them as a part of your life at the moment. Your friends will help you. I know flying is important for you, and we will find a way for you to go flying while one of us is present, but you will not go flying on your own. If I find out that..."

"I know, Severus," Harry said, annoyed.

"I hope so. And watch your tone," Severus said warningly.

"I'm sorry, but this is a topic that is really hard to accept. Maybe we should change it. What did James say? Are you healthy enough to go shopping?"

"What do you think?" Severus raised an eyebrow in question.

"I think you still look ill. For me it wouldn't be a problem to wait a few days."

"I'm perfectly fine. Stop racking your brain over me. We will leave at three," Severus said and took the next dose of James' potion.

"Mr. Ronald Weasley and Miss Hermione Granger ask to be let in," the front door announced.

Severus groaned. "You will finish your meal before you go into your room with them." He looked at Harry, who had already tried to stand up. Harry sat down again and grabbed his spoon to shovel the soup into himself at full speed. "Let them in, Charlee!" Severus ordered the door.

Ron and Hermione entered the living room cautiously.

"Come over here. Harry has to finish his meal first," Severus said to the two teenagers.

"Good day, sir," Hermione said politely.

"Yeah, eh... hello, sir," Ron said, unsure.

"Hello to you as well, Mr. Weasley," Severus said sarcastically while he motioned them to sit down.

"How are you, sir?" Hermione asked Severus.

Severus turned to face her and just glared at her.

"Ehm... Harry, how are you?" Hermione turned to face Harry. She immediately grimaced, seeing how Harry was eating. "Eww, Harry, have you changed into Ron? Why are you eating like a pig?"

"Because he wants to rescue you from my presence, Miss Granger," Severus said and glared at Harry.

"It's not like that. I just want to make use of the time they are here," Harry said defensively.

"And you cannot do that in my presence?" Severus raised his eyebrow.

"I thought you didn't want to have us around," Harry said, confused.

"To be honest, I would like to hear from Miss Granger how her Potions class was today." He looked curiously at the girl.

Hermione shifted nervously on her seat. "Professor Dumbledore said you would ask me this, and he told me to say that it is none of your concern, sir." Hermione looked as if she was preparing herself to run any minute to hide from a furious Potions master. Seeing his face, she quickly added, "I'm sorry."

Severus could hardly suppress his anger. This old codger, how dare he to prepare her for a conversation with me? It's my dungeon and my Potions lab he is playing in. "At least tell me what you were brewing, Miss Granger. Maybe I could answer a few of the questions you surely have about it in return." Severus noticed seconds before a hand was placed on his shoulder that Hermione was staring at something, or someone, behind him.

"Nice try, Severus, but if you want to speak with someone about your Potions classes, it should be me." Severus groaned in frustration to hear the Headmaster's voice behind him.

"Why don't you three go into Harry's room?" Dumbledore asked the children. "But not for long, Harry. You know James' instructions about..."

"Yes, I know, sir. I will do exactly what James said," Harry said quickly. Under no circumstances did he want to let his friends hear about his nap time. "Come on." He nearly pulled his friends in the direction of his room.

When they were almost there, Harry asked, "So what did you do in Potions?"

"Don't ask, Harry. We cooked and didn't brew," Hermione said disapprovingly.

"I liked it," Ron said as they entered Harry's room.

"Sure you did. You like everything that has to do with eating." Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron.

"So what did you brew... eh, cook?" Harry asked.

"Drops. All kinds of flavors, but Professor Dumbledore tried to convince us all to make lemon drops," Hermione explained.

"Wow, that's wicked," Ron said when he saw the photo wall.

Harry grinned proudly. He grabbed the drawing of the twins that he had laid on his desk and went over to Ron and Hermione, who sat on his bed and looked in awe at the photos.

"Remus gave them to me and then he showed me how to glue them to the wall. Look!" Harry glued the drawing on the wall on the long side of his bed. "I hope they will let me get some money from my vault to buy a camera. I want to add new photos, as well. Severus also offered to show me photos of my mom when she was young. He'll give me some, too," Harry said happily.

Ron grimaced. "It's really weird to hear you call him by his given name."

Harry sighed. He had hoped they were beyond this awkwardness. Why was it so hard for Ron to accept it all? "I can't call him Professor just in your presence. That's too confusing, Ron."

"Yeah, mate. I know, but it's still weird." Seeing Harry's sad face, he added, "Just ignore me. So, what have you planned for today. Will they let you out?"

Hermione was still studying the photos, but turned after hearing this question. She was interested in the answer as well.

"Ivy, Severus and I will go shopping this afternoon. I'm looking forward to it, but also feel a little unsure. Aunt Petunia never went shopping with me." Harry really was worried, but he didn't want to show it. He didn't want them to think he was weird.

"Even if your aunt would have gone shopping with you, it wouldn't help you with this. I've talked with Luna about it, and it is really different to the Muggle way of shopping. Even though I don't believe everything that she said. I mean, it is still Luna we are speaking about," Hermione explained.

"They want to pay for everything. That's really strange. I wish they would let me pay for myself," Harry said worriedly.

"That's what parents do, mate," Ron said while standing up and walking over to Quidditch poster to look at it. "And they are your new parents, aren't they?"

Harry was still thinking about what Ron had just said when Ron turned around abruptly. "Wow, are you still Harry Potter? Or are you Harry Snape now?"

Now Harry was really confused. He hadn't thought about it until now. He didn't know much about this whole guardianship thing. "As much as I know, they are my guardians. I don't think that my name has changed. They said I can still leave and choose another family to live with. So I'm still Harry Potter." Harry said this all, but he wasn't sure about it. I have to ask Ivy and Severus a little more about this guardianship.

Ron shrugged and turned to the poster again.

Hermione mentally slapped Ron for disturbing Harry with his question. Harry was obviously racking his brain over it now. "You can speak with them, Harry. They will explain the whole guardianship issue more clearly. Don't worry too much about it. You'll enjoy shopping," she told him and patted his leg.

Ron snorted and came over to the bed again. "Enjoy? He isn't a girl," Ron said to Hermione and then turned to Harry. "You'll be happy when it's over. We don't go shopping often, right? I wear the clothes of my brothers, but sometimes we do go shopping. Believe me, it's awful."

"Ron!" Hermione scolded. How stupid can he be? Doesn't he see how much Harry is worried about this all?

"What? It's the truth. All this collar adjusting here and prodding there." He gestured wildly to emphasize the meaning. "And all this in front of people in a shop. It's awful."

Harry was sitting open-mouthed and shocked on his bed. Shopping definitely wasn't something he would like. He was sure about it now. How the hell can I get out of it?

Hermione jumped up and grabbed Ron by his arm. "Stop it, Ron. You're upsetting Harry."

"Oh!" Ron said. Upsetting, that word activated something in his brain. "Do you have your applicator?" He frantically went over to Harry and started to rummage in Harry's pockets.

Harry was still sitting shocked at the bed and his brain didn't catch up with Ron's actions. Hermione, meanwhile, pulled Ron away from Harry. "Ron, let him be. He doesn't need his applicator."

While Ron tried to free himself from Hermione, a sharp knock was heard and seconds later an irritated Potions master was standing in the room. "What's the problem?" Albus had just left, and Severus wanted to tell Ron and Hermione to leave Harry for his nap when he had heard shouting from the room.

"Nothing, sir. Ron is just overreacting," Hermione tried to explain, but Ron was still struggling with her.

"Harry needs his potion, but Hermione stopped me from getting it for Harry," Ron almost shouted. His face was red, and he looked angrily at Hermione.

Both teenagers were pushed unceremoniously to the side when a worried Potions master tried to reach Harry.

Finally, Harry came to his senses and noticed the scene in front of him. Severus reached him and pushed up his chin to examine him.

"I'm okay, Severus. I don't need a potion," he tried to explain.

"Then why does Mr. Weasley think that you need one?" Severus thought that Harry wanted to hide something, but couldn't figure out why Miss Granger was holding Mr. Weasley back.

Harry shook his head to clear it. "I don't know."

Severus turned to Ron. "What is all the fuss about, Mr. Weasley?"

"Hermione said he is upset. I thought we should give him the potion then?" Ron said, confused.

Harry groaned, frustrated, and threw himself at the bed. He grabbed for his cushion and pressed it in his face. I wish I could vanish right now. They think I'm crazy.

Severus rolled his eyes. "Mr. Weasley, first, you will never give any potion to Harry. If he needs to use the applicator then it will be he who uses it. And second, this potion is for a panic attack, not for any negative emotion he may have. Is that clear now?" Severus was looking dangerously at Ron.

Ron couldn't answer verbally, so he just nodded.

"I think you'd better leave now. I was on my way to send you out anyway. I presume you will find your way out alone?" Severus asked angrily.

"Of course, sir," Hermione said and dragged Ron out of the room. "Bye, Harry," she called as she maneuvered Ron through the door frame.

When they had left, Severus turned to Harry. He rolled his eyes and sat down on the bed. "Take that off your face, Harry. I don't want to explain to Ivy why you choked in your bed when she comes to get you for the shopping trip." He pulled the cushion from Harry's grip.

"I don't want to go shopping anymore," Harry said, already preparing himself to be hit by eyeing Severus' movements cautiously.

James had told them to try physical contact as often as possible, and so Severus moved his hand to touch Harry's head, maybe a little too fast. Harry flinched away and closed his eyes. Severus' hand stopped in midair and then he drew it back. "I wasn't going to hit you, Harry. I just wanted to pat your head. I thought that would calm you." This was an awkward situation, and Severus hated to be in it. Why couldn't Ivy be there to handle the situation. Or James? He sighed when he saw Harry open his eyes cautiously. "I'm not good at this, I know, but you don't have to flinch away from me. Why the hell should I hit you?"

"Because I don't want to go shopping anymore," Harry said miserably.

"This morning you seemed to be looking forward to it. So what has changed? What have those dunderheads told you?"

"They are my friends," Harry said sullenly and sat up, hugging his knees.

"So, what have your friends said to you?" Severus said, annoyed.

Harry didn't know what to tell Severus, and so he just stared stubbornly at the wall.

"Oh, fantastic: Prince Gryffindor is above speaking with me," Severus spat. Now he really wished Ivy were there to take over. He felt the urge to shake Harry until the answer fell out, but he was sure that wasn't an adequate option right now.

"I'm not Prince Gryffindor," Harry said angrily. "I just don't want Ivy to force me into outfit after outfit and then prod at me until it fits."

First Severus looked at Harry as if he had grown two heads, and then he almost fell over from laughing. Harry was confused, but seeing Severus laugh made it hard not to start grinning. After a few seconds he gave in and grinned openly. Severus, meanwhile, was steadying himself with his hand on Harry's shoulder. "Oh yes, that's really scary. I wonder why you didn't have a panic attack about it." He could hardly manage to speak between all his laughing.

"Very funny, Severus," Harry said and rolled his eyes. "James said my panic attacks are nothing to make fun about."

"Oh, yes, you are right." Severus tried hard to control himself and to make a straight face. "Please don't tell James on me."

"If you convince Ivy not to pester me, I won't tell James," Harry said, grinning.

"Then I fear I will have to face James. Ivy will not give up the opportunity to pester you. I have to face this fate at least once a year, and so you have to face it as well. That's the destiny of the men in this family." He ruffled Harry's hair. "And now it is nap time. We don't want James to catch us acting against his order, do we? "

"Hmph," Harry said and sullenly made himself ready for his nap.

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