Just a one-shot that was floating around my head now turned into a ten chapter story. I hope you enjoy reading it!
This first chapter was not ment to be dark, at least I don't think so anyway, but hints at Harry making an attempt to get out of his unhappiness. Im not sure when this is exactly, I was thinking after the fourth book. I also have a great chapter story coming up soon, the first posting will be this Saturday, I hope you all enjoy it!
Disclaimer... I own nothing accept perhaps these shoes I found... oh wait... nope I stole'd those from my sis so yeah...
Please read and enjoy!
Chapter 1
It was the last day with the students, Snape had locked himself away in his office and made a promise to himself that he would not be seen outside of his office's safe walls until the last of those wretched students were gone.
He was in the middle of reading over the O.W.L's when a chill went up his back, like something was there that shouldn't be, he glanced around his large mahogany desk, everything was where it should be, then he looked up. To his surprise Harry stood there, looking as uncertain as Snape was that he was there. Lillie's eyes darted around nervously inside the boys head, looking everywhere but at Snape himself and Potter's lips seemed incessantly dry because he kept licking them and fiddling with his hands as if hands were a new feature for him.
"Well why do I have the dismal pain of your presence?" Snape asked. He wondered how long the boy had been standing there, Snape had been pretty deep in his reading, some of those answers were down right entertaining, as if they had just given up even trying to get it right. Potter wore his muggle clothes, a red sweatshirt much too big for him, and jeans also a few sizes too big for him. He'd heard somewhere that in the muggle world it was stylish to have clothes far too big for you and simply, could not see the sense in it. Another thing he'd heard was 'warn out' and 'threadbare' were apparently in these days, he saw that Harry was accommodating all the stylish irks that Snape detested.
"I saw a picture of you and my mom together and wanted to know if you knew her" He said. Of all the things Snape could have suspected he'd say, that wasn't one of them, not even close. In fact of everything he had imagined, this had simply never come up as a topic the little boy would ever dare bring up. Severus's silence was misunderstood as an invitation to continue. "I've met many people that knew my father but none that really knew my mother... if you actually knew her I'd like to know more about her."
"What kind of trick is this?" Snape demanded, standing up. He thought of all the people that could have come up with this idea to somehow either try to hurt him emotionally or try to get information of some sort. Perhaps even Potter wanted to gain his trust somehow so that he could humiliate him later, who knew what his true intentions were.
"No trick, I just want to know if you knew her." Potter said, his usual characteristic and glare was gone, but he still had his father's pride, his jaw clenched and his hands balled into fists. The exact image of his father.
Snape spoke in a clenched but perfectly clear tone, "I happen to know in fact that both Remus and Serious were around her much more often then I was at the end."
"Yes but, they didn't actually get to know her, they were more around my father." Harry explained, he was losing his conviction and was now wishing more then anything that he had never come.
"You mean the miraculous five never actually knew Lily? Figures, they stick to their own as they've always done." Snape said, mockingly and in his most disgusted voice. "Nothing in them but sniveling cowards, liars and backstabbing neanderthals."
The pride Severus had come to know came back into the boys' shoulders, that gloating Im- better- than- you pride that irked him to no end. It was a moment before he did speak though. "Never mind you probably made her as miserable as you make me." Harry said. Harry's expression changed dramatically, his eyes became even more vibrant and a flame all too painfully familiar shot out of them, but Harry's voice remained level and collected, it didn't crack with emotion or raise with intensity. Harry's words stung Snape much more then he had thought they would, as though they were nearly said by Lilly herself.
Without waiting for a response, Harry turned on his heel and charging out of the room. He did not hesitate at the door and even pulled the door to add an extra loud 'bang' as it smashed shut.
Once out in the hall Harry took out a photo from his pocket, it was of Snape and his mother, both looking into the camera but it was his mother taking the picture, it was of muggle make so it didn't move but both looked about the age of sixteen just then, and his mother wore a black barrette in her hair which looked blond in the black and white photo, but rather then study the face of his mother hugging the man that had caused him such unhappiness, he flipped it over to the message inscribed.
'My Darling Severus, I can count on you always and forever, never change.'
"Well he has." Harry told the picture spitefully. Harry went as if to tear the picture in half, to take Snape out of it, but decided not to and instead put it back into his pocket, he took his bags, which were stacked onto his cart outside the door to Snape's office, and hurried to the train.
What was he thinking anyways? That Snape would somehow feel honourbound to save him from the Dursleys? Pfft, the Professor would probably join in, suggest a belting at every opportunity, convince the Dursleys that Wizards don't actually require sleep or that much food. He could just imagine Snape and Vernen swapping tips to making 'disobedient' children just that much more miserable. Bringing a camera to show the whole wizarding world how 'the boy who lived' spent all summer so they could all join in the laughter. He could see first day Snape coming in to announce how he had observed 'Potter' and getting the whole school in on it. Harry shivered to what he had almost put himself through. This was his one safe spot in all the world, and he had almost jeopardized it in hopes of getting out of the horrible summer ahead. No, he had told Dumbledore everything, if the headmaster couldn't help him then no one could.
Inside the classroom Snape stood, about to charge after the boy and demand an explanation for his rude behavior. He stopped himself on his third step towards the door. Hogwarts had a rule for times like these, when kids, thought they could not lose housepoints or be punished just before summer break and decided to act out. Snape went to the bookcase behind his desk and after a moment of searching found the red leather book he was looking for. He opened the points book for next year and noted 50 points from Gryffandor, that would add a bit of anger to the other students coming back to find Gryffandor starting out in the negatives, and all due to Harry.
He went back to the O.W.L's, trying to pretend to be satisfied with his work. Somehow it wasn't enough, he just could not concentrate on his work, he slammed the papers down and left to go to his private rooms, not in the mood for anymore surprise visits. No one bothered him the entire walk but he was still in a bad mood, in his opinion the kids couldn't leave fast enough.
Meanwhile Harry anticipated another horrible summer at the Dursleys.
"Did you tell Dumbledore like you should have years ago?" Asked Hermione quietly but firmly. She was dressed in a pair of blue jeans and striped top, all ready to begin her summer with her parents, even Ron was dressed in his Muggle attire already and although he wouldn't say it, was looking forward to playing with his new broom this year. But Harry also knew that they were worried for him, it wasn't as if they didn't care but they could not do anything to help him.
Harry sighed before he replied, "Yes, he said I have to stay there this summer anyway but just for a few weeks then he'll bring me somewhere safe. Said he'd send somebody."
"Yeah sure he will." Hermione said, from anyone else, it may have been sarcasm, but Harry knew she wholeheartedly believed him, and Dumbledore.
Ron gave him a reassuring smile, as did Hermione, they promised to send extra letters and treats his way and if they did not hear from him, Ron would come by and save him again. He laughed with them but they all knew, there would be no miraculous rescue this year the car was gone and Ron was going to be away all summer with his brother and the dragon trainers far out of country.
Ron gave him a reassuring smile, as did Hermione, they promised to send extra letters and treats his way and if they did not hear from him, Ron would come by and save him again. He laughed with them but they all knew, there would be no miraculous rescue this year.