Title: Fidelity

Author: Miss-Judgey

Disclaimer: The Characters and setting are not mine. They are owned by J.K Rowling, a literary god

BANG!

Harry shuddered, that was the 3rd time that week he had blown up his potion.

"Mr. Potter the instructions clearly state to stir the potion after adding the toads eyes, not before. Perhaps detention will be a suitable way to remind you to keep your mind on your work" snarled the greasy potions master.

Harry huffed, but did not argue. He had barely slept for a second that week. Every time he dozed off he had nightmares about privet drive and had stayed awake to avoid reliving his uncle's harsh 'punishments'.

Not a moment too soon the bell for lunch rang and Harry, Ron and Hermione all hurried out of the draughty dungeons.

"I have to go to the library, I'll see you two at dinner" said Hermione as she hurried off in the direction of the library.

"I don't know why she even bothers staying in the tower, she should just sleep in the library and save herself the trouble" grumbled Ron.

"Yeah" Harry mumbled absentmindedly.

Ron slowed down to walk beside Harry and looked at him sympathetically

"What's going on mate? You've been distracted all week. Are you having nightmares about you-know-who again? Come on Harry, you can tell me"

"No, I just can't sleep, alright? Leave it alone would you?" snapped Harry.

I feel bad for not telling them, but I just know what they would say. They would both tell me to go to Dumbledore, and that is certainly not something I want to do, especially after all he has kept from me.

Harry and Ron entered the great hall and sat down with Neville and Dean. Harry was glad for an excuse not to have to talk to Ron and glad for the good meal. He had gotten much skinnier over the holidays and loved being back at Hogwarts with real food.

After about half an hour Harry started to feel uncomfortable, like someone was watching him. He looked up at the teachers table and found himself staring into the eyes of Professor Snape.


Stupid, insolent Potter. He is too caught up in his own self-indulgent fantasies to pay attention in my class. In fact he is probably thinking about his next foolish late night adventure. He is exactly like his prat of a father, always thinking of himself. I will teach that boy to show some respect.

Snape's rant was interrupted when he nearly collided with a first year Slytherin. He gave the nervy boy a cold stare and continued on his way to the great hall, thinking of cruel punishments for Potter the whole way there.

However to Snape's dismay, when he finally got to lunch, he couldn't take his eyes off Harry.

There is something different about the boy. He is skinnier then usual, but that isn't it. He just doesn't seem like himself. Probably has something to do with the loss of that mutt of a godfather. It must have been hard for him. Oh no, what am I thinking? I can't possibly be concerned for that spoilt brat. No, of course I'm not. He is the same stuck up brat-who-lived that has been strutting around like he owns the place since he got here.

Snape snapped out of his reverie when Potter's green eyes met with his.

At that moment he felt something funny in his stomach. His eyes, there was something different about them. Like all the life was out of them.

Snape shook his head to get rid of the thought and went back to eating his lunch, slightly disturbed by his moment of concern for Potter.


That night at 10 to 7 Harry left Ron and Hermione in the Gryffindor common room to make his way down to the dungeons.

What did it mean? Usually when Snape looks at me it is with loathing or disgust, but that look was something different. It was like he was almost…concerned. He couldn't be concerned about me though, he hates me. I don't deserve anyone's concern anyway.

Harry stopped at Snape's door and took a big breath of dank air before knocking.

"Enter"

Harry nervously opened the door and stood looking at Snape. He was sitting behind his desk marking papers.

"Did no one ever teach you that it is rude to loiter in doorways Mr. Potter? Get in here and sit down" commanded Snape without even looking up from his papers

Harry gave Snape a glare that luckily he missed and went and sat in the hard chair in front of Snape's desk. It was almost 5 minutes before Snape finished marking the last paper and looked up to fix Harry with a sharp glare.

"Today you will be scrubbing cauldrons. I want you to finish all 15 of them by 8:30 or you will be here again tomorrow, is that understood?"

"Yes, sir" mumbled Harry

"Good, now get on with it"

Harry turned and began to stomp off to the next room when Snape called out

"Oh and by the way Mr. Potter, if I catch you slacking off just once, it will be fifty points from Gryffindor. Hopefully this will teach you to pay attention"

Harry glared at the potions master and then set to work on the stack of cauldrons.

The cauldrons were so dirty that Harry had to scrub extra hard, and he was getting quite caught up in his work. He didn't even notice when Snape came into the room to watch him work. As he reached across the cauldron to scrub a particularly hard stain, the sleeve of his too small school robes were pulled up, revealing a nasty yellow bruise that had been inflicted in one of Uncle Vernon's drunken rages.

The bruise caught Snape's eye and he walked silently over to the boy and grabbed his arm from behind. Harry flinched and his other arm flew up to protect his face.

Snape was shocked, but chose to ignore it.

"Fighting is not accepted at Hogwarts, Mr. Potter. Perhaps another detention tomorrow night is in order" Snape said coldly

"I haven't been fighting" hissed an annoyed and embarrassed Harry.

"Do not lie to me boy" snarled Snape, dropping Harry's arm and walking around to stand in front of him.

"If you did not get this bruise from fighting then how did you get it?"

"I fell" lied Harry

"Liar"

Snape stood and strode to the other side of the room to continue marking papers.

"That will be all Mr. Potter; I expect to see you here tomorrow night for another detention".

Without another word Harry stood up and strode angrily from the room, slamming the door behind him.

He flinched away from me. What was that about? I have never seen the boy behave like that before. It was almost like he thought I was going to hit him…all well, I'm sure it meant nothing.

However as hard as he tried, Severus Snape couldn't stop seeing the look on Harry's face when he had flinched away from him.

That night was sleepless for Severus Snape, as he sat up in front of his fire, thinking only of Harry and his promise to Lily. Little did he know that Harry was sitting in front of the fire in Gryffindor Tower thinking of him too.