"Aww …is the Git-Who-Lived going to start blubbering over his mummy croaking tonight?" Weasley mocked him.
Vince who was sitting near Ron took a big spoonful of mashed potatoes, pulled the spoon back and let it go, hitting Ron directly in his face and wiping the sneering expression off of it. Greg followed suit with the baked squash.
"Great shot, you guys," Fred complimented and followed with a spoonful of peas while George fired off a spoonful of corn and Lee a spoonful of carrots. Neville shot off a final spoonful of stuffing at Ron. "Now you have a complete meal," he joked.
Ron got up in a rage and stormed out of the Great Hall.
"Hey Weaselbee! Aren't you going to wait for dessert too?" Draco yelled after him.
Percy sat eating and chatting with Hermione while pretending not to notice what was going on at the table.
Professor McGonagall also pretended not to notice what was going on at her house table either. Mr. Weasley had been acting like a bully towards Mr. Potter-Snape ever since the first day and she thought a little 'peer pressure' might help him adjust his attitude.
"Mr. Weasley does not seem to be very popular with his housemates tonight, does he?" Severus commented mildly.
The main meal vanished and every kind of sweet imaginable appeared. All the first year's eyes widened noticeably. Every table contained a bowl of lemon drops including the head table.
After the feast was finished and the students dismissed, Harry and Draco walked down to the dungeon together. Harry cast the Muffliato spell that his father had taught him around Draco and him and then said, "I'm sorry, you have to hear bad comments about your parents when you know they aren't what everybody thinks they are."
Draco shrugged. "I'm used to it, Harry. I've been hearing them since I was a little kid, but I know what my dad really is so it doesn't bother me that much."
"I hear dad referred to as the greasy bat of the dungeon all the time and it hurts even though I know what he's really like."
"It does hurt some," Draco admitted. "But of course I have to put on my junior death eater's mask for the likes of Parkinson and Zabini and pretend I'm thrilled."
They split up at Severus quarters; Draco continuing to the entrance to Slytherin House. Harry gave the password to the portrait of Salazar Slytherin and he heard a click and the portrait swung open. Harry stepped inside to find Severus toying with a strange wand he'd never seen before. Seeing Harry's expression, he said, "This wand was your mother's. I went to the house the next day after your parents had been removed. Dumbledore had already sent you to live with your aunt and uncle. I went inside and upstairs to the nursery where Lily had died and I found her wand under your cot. I've kept it ever since intending to give it to you when you started Hogwarts, but with all that happened in the beginning it slipped my mind."
"Well, you can give it back to mum now," Harry said. "Draco said once if a witch or wizard dies and they aren't buried with their wand or left it to somebody, the Ministry destroys it."
"That is true. I believe your father was buried with his, but I think the Ministry just assumed your mum's had been destroyed when the roof caved in."
"Well, I'm glad they didn't destroy mum's wand. What's her wand made of?"
"It's made of willow. It's a feminine wood which harnesses the power of moon and water. It has a Griffin claw core for casting powerful defensive spells, charms or hexes. We got our wands at the same time and I remember what Mr. Ollivander said."
What's your wand, Dad?" Harry asked. "I remember Mr. Ollivander saying something about it when we first came into his shop, but I was so excited about getting my own wand that I didn't pay much attention."
"Mine is ebony which is a powerful wood used for the defense, reversal, and dispelling of dark magic. The core is a serpent's scale which is excellent for somebody who wants to brew potions," Severus smiled reminiscently. "I remember Mr. Ollivander telling me I would do great things in potions and I have."
Harry yawned and Severus noticed. "You can lay down and sleep for a few hours and I will wake you when it is close to midnight," he promised.
"Okay, Dad." Harry went into bedroom and lay down. He doubted he would be able to sleep. All the times in his cupboard when he listened to his aunt and uncle praising Dudley, hugging him and making sure everything was perfect for him. He had often pictured it happening with his own mum and dad. Severus came into check on Harry a half-hour later and found him fast asleep. He got a blanket out of the chest at the bottom of Harry's bed and covered him with it. Even though he was still dressed it got cold in the dungeon at night. He went back to the living room and went back to searching through the books in his bookcases seeing if he could find something about what happens when someone returns from behind the Veil, but found nothing. Probably the only ones who would know for sure were the Unspeakables in the Department of Mysteries and of course, they could not reveal anything. Severus went into his kitchen and passed the time making chicken broth in case Lily needed nourishment upon her return. By the time it was done, it was 11:30 and he went to wake Harry. "Harry?" He called shaking him gently.
Harry woke up as soon as his dad called his name. He felt groggy and was surprised to find he had actually fallen asleep. "What time is it, Dad?"
"It's 11:30," Severus answered.
"Wow! I slept over two hours? I didn't think I'd be able to fall asleep at all."