Madam Pomfrey made Harry stay in the Hospital Wing over night, even though he felt fine. The second he was released, he raced down to Severus's chambers.
"Dad!" he shouted.
"There is no need to shout, Harry." Severus replied, quite calmly. He was reading the newspaper. In the kitchen. Again.
"What do you think it was in the woods that attacked me?" Harry asked hurriedly, forcing himself to not shout.
"We shall worry about that later." Severus replied. "Have you forgotten what today is?"
Harry thought for a moment. "Your birthday?" he tried.
"No," Severus said, momentarily glaring at Harry. "It is September first. We must get you to King's Cross."
"Do you think that Fred and George's brother, Ron, I think, will like me?" Harry asked.
"Why are you worried about that?" Severus replied.
"Because. I've been friends with all of his brothers, and I want him to like me, since he's my age." Harry explained.
"Well, you won't know unless you get ready to get to King's Cross."
"Hang on." Harry paused, halfway through a step. "Why do I need to ride the train? I'm already here."
"Well," Severus deliberated on how to say this, "Lily met James on the train. If one of them hadn't been riding, it's quite possible you wouldn't have been born. Do you want to meet friends?"
"What if I meet someone who I hate?" Harry asked. "I mean, my mum hated James when she first met him."
"And yet, here we are." Severus replied. "Why are you worried about this?"
"Because. I'm the freaking boy who lived. And now I'm going to be meeting people my age that I'm gonna be going to school with for the next seven years." Harry explained. "What if I make friends, then find out they only wanted to be my friend because I defeated Voldemort?"
"Then you can stop being friends with them." Severus said simply. "Now, you may leave your trunk here, but I want you to ride the train, at least for your first year."
"Fine." Harry said. "Can we go, then?"
"We still have an hour." Severus replied. "You can wait."
Harry sighed, and threw himself down onto the couch.
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