Snape found Harry on the roof of Gryffindor Tower, of all places. His eyes were closed and a look of contentment on his face, Snape, despite himself, felt a small pang of sorrow that he was sent to disturb that peace. "Potter," he said by way of greeting. Harry lazily opened his eyes.
"Professor," he said in reply and Snape paused. Harry Potter had never, in all his time at Hogwarts, called him 'Professor' or 'Sir' or shown any other sign of respect if he could help it. Harry caught his expression and chuckled softly. "I've grown up, Professor, perhaps you should think of doing the same."
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I thought it would be the last place anyone would look for me," Harry replied, before glancing at Snape. "Obviously I was wrong. I'm going to have to find a new hiding place."
"Hiding place?" Snape said before he could stop himself. He knew he sounded like an idiot, but he couldn't help it.
Harry sighed. "Why are you here Professor?" he sounded tired and Snape caught a shadow in his eyes. Lily's eyes. No, his eyes. Lily's eyes were never so tortured.
"I was sent by Professor McGonagall to find you. I don't know why she decided to send me considering our past relations. Possibly to get me out of the way."
"Tell her I'm … playing Quidditch, or something. Tell her I've emigrated."
Snape, again, couldn't help himself. This was getting to be a bad habit. "Why?"
"Why? Because I don't want anyone to find me, isn't that obvious?"
"Again, and I know I sound like a particularly dim witted two year old, why?"
Harry looked at him incredulously. "I'm sick of all the attention," he said. "I always have been."
Snape sneered, "Sick of it? You always loved it-" Snape stopped. Harry's eyes were upon him, fiery with suppressed rage. Snape was not a man to scare easily, but he found his fingers edging towards his wand,
"You really are an idiot aren't you?" he spat. "You were so determined to hate me you only saw what you wanted to see. You only saw the worst of my dad, when all I wanted … all I wanted was …" Harry's eyes were dark and empty, and Snape got the impression that Harry hadn't slept for weeks, "I tried to make them love me," he said in far off sort of voice before losing his energy and slumping back.
"All you wanted was a family." Snape finished for him, thinking he might finally understand the boy who reminded him so much of what he hated and loved most in the world. The man, he reminded himself. The man who had saved them all.
Harry nodded, unable to speak. Then he flicked his wand and Snape had to duck as Harry's broom came hurtling towards them. He climbed onto the broom then he turned back to Snape and said, in a hollow, dead sort of voice, "Tell McGonagall whatever you want, Snape. I'm sure you can think of something suitably humiliating."
"Harry-"
But he had already flown away.
Snape searched for Harry relentlessly after that. Him and every two-bit hack out there, he thought bitterly. No wonder Harry hated it.