It was a chilly friday morning near the end of term when Harry was pulled out of class and ordered to go and see the Headmaster in his office, it had been during Potions, therefore it had caused quite the commotion. Snape looked like he could've murdered the first year that came to the door to request Harry's presence. However, Snape had no authority to say no to Dumbledore, and that's how Harry had managed to escape third period Potions. Very much a bonus. The boy that had come to get him left as soon as Harry had come to the entrance to the Headmaster's study which was a large, rather ugly stone Gargoyle.

'Sherbet lemons..' Harry whispered, cautious that someone might hear the password and later use it to bring about trouble, something Dumbledore wouldn't thank him for, which was the last thing Harry wanted, seeing as the Wizard had done nothing but good things for him.

The Gargoyle swung open rather like a door, to reveal a winding set of stairs. Harry gulped in slightly fearful anticipation and began to climb.

'Unfortunately Harry, your immediate family, The Dursley's, are unable to take you this summer. As you have no other family in which you could spend the holidays with, we are uncertain as to what to do with you.' Dumbledore spoke over his half-moon glasses, his sparkling eyes hovering on Harry's forehead momentarily, and then looking to his silver goblet of sherbet lemons, which he plunged his hand into and began to twiddle a sweet between his long fingers.

'But Dumbledore, can't I stay with Ron?' Harry panicked; he knew what would be done with him if he had nowhere to go, he remembered back to last year in which he saved Ron's younger sister Ginny from the clutches of his darkest enemy. Riddle's diary had shown him a flashback, 51 years ago, a short conversation between Riddle and Dumbledore, who at the time was not headmaster. He had told Dumbledore they couldn't close the school, he couldn't bear to go back to the orphanage. Harry was scared that was where he would end up this summer, unwanted, unloved.

'Arthur Weasley recently informed me that he and his family will be going to stay with distant relatives abroad this summer, unfortunately, and believe me I have checked, you will be unable to accompany them Harry.'

Why hadn't Ron told him about this? Probably out of guilt. Oh well, anywhere would be better than spending the whole summer with his rotten Aunt and Uncle, not to mention their rather large, terrible son 'Dudders' who felt the need to make Harry's life a misery at every opportunity.

Just then the door behind them creaked loudly and Dumbledore looked up, his eyes not concealing how puzzled he was at the Wizard who had entered.

'Severus?'

'Sorry to intrude on this delicate matter Headmaster, but I have an idea.' The recognizable silky voice of Harrys Potions Professor seemed to overwhelm Dumbledore's small study. He didn't want to even question how Snape had known about his...situation, his stomach was retching uncomfortably, feeling horribly like a rogue bludger had hit him square in the gut, but Dobby wasn't around as far as he knew... Snape always seemed to appear in Harrys life, whenever he least wanted him too (which as far as Harry was concerned, was always), it was like he took great pleasure in adding to the enormous pressure that weighed down Harry's shoulders. He closed his eyes fiercely and took a deep breath, he had more pressing matters to consider right now, and he would not let his sarcastic Potions teacher get under his skin.

'Wonderful Severus! Why don't you share?' Albus looked thoughtful as he popped another sherbet lemon into his mouth, his old face lighting up in pleasure.

'Why doesn't Potter stay at Hogwarts this summer? As you know I will be taking up residence in the school this summer, and I could use an extra pair of hands when it comes to the challenge of preparing the school for a new term.' Snape spoke in his quiet voice; Harry was wide eyed as he continued. 'As long as Potter stays out of the way and does not make himself known to me over the 6 weeks, I don't see an issue with this…arrangement.' He licked him lips slowly as he barely breathed the last word.

Harry felt like his lungs had been punctured, and were deflating as the silent seconds passed. What terrors would be in store if he were to spend the summer under Snape's careful watch? He couldn't bear to think. He just hoped that the headmaster would think this an awful idea and cast Severus out of the room.

'Brilliant! How generous of you! Much better than my original thoughts, which would be inappropriate! Harry my dear boy, I think we have your summer arrangements sorted, unless you have somewhere else you would rather go? Severus, I'll…talk to you in a moment.' Dumbledore paused in his excitement and shot a happy, questioning look at Harry.

'No sir.' Harry felt sombre as he lowered his head. It looked like there could be a worse summer than one shared with the Dursley's.

'That's awful Harry! Snape's so horrible!' Hermione gasped as Harry told her the news, his other best friend, Ron, looked equally as flabbergasted.

'Did he tell you what he was going to make you do?' Ron asked leaning forward in anticipation, probably expecting Harry to tell him how he was going to get him to do something unspeakable, which thankfully he wasn't.

'When Dumbledore sent me out of his study... I heard him and Snape talking, Dumbledore was really taken aback by Snape's offer. Guess I wasn't the only one... Well, I heard the Professor saying he'd need help maintaining the grounds ready for September, but the Headmaster shot him down and said that's why we had elves, and that he dearly hoped Severus wasn't going to try and make me into an elf. Snape didn't reply!'

'He's going to make you his servant? Harry that's ter-' Hermione flew her arms around Harry's neck and stifled a few sobs.

'No No- it's okay, I heard Snape then say that he thought it would be best for my protection now that some Death Eater that he used to be acquainted with, is on the run. Something about how he would likely try and get his hands on me if he finds out where I am, not forgetting that he has connections with Snape himself who could protect me against him, if I become the Wizards latest obsession. I missed the name though... Snape said that there was no safer place than Hogwarts, therefore as much as it killed him to make the offer, his conscience had won over and told him to make me stay here. But he's not happy about it.'

'So Snape wants to protect you?' Ron asked, repeating what Harry had already said.

'Yeah, I guess.'

'-He wants to protect Harry from a Death eater? Who's to say that he won't go behind Dumbledores back and bring him to Hogwarts? Did anyone think of that! Snape wouldn't just offer to be your guardian for the summer Harry, this is suicide!'

'Maybe it is Hermione, but I have no other choice.' Harry admitted, giving his friend a pat on the shoulder, trying awkwardly to stop her tears.

'I'm really sorry that you can't stay with either of us this summer Harry.' Ron gave his friend a weak look, guilt covering his pale freckled face. 'Really, really, sorry.'

'It's alright both of you, I don't want to be a burden anyway, I hope Snape just lets me get on with my homework. At least I can do it this summer, last year I had to do it at night under my covers.

Both his friends nodded sadly.

'We'll write to you every day! And Percy said I could use his friends Owl 'Ferret' who he's being lent so that he can write to his friends back in England, so Errol doesn't keel over somewhere on his way across the Pacific Ocean.' Ron grinned and gave Harry a thump on the back. 'Imagine all the exploring you could do in this old place!' for a second he looked a little jealous at the possibilities of what Harry could get up to in the 6 week holiday, none of which Harry was planning to do.

'Certainly not Ronald! You'll be catching up on work and not doing anything to aggravate Snape won't you!' It wasn't a question. Harry nodded and glanced at Ron who was muttering something about sounding like his mother under his breath. 'But he is correct. We'll both write to you every day, I promise! And I'll send you gifts again, at least you have your birthday to look forward too!'

His birthday. He hadn't thought about that. The prospect of another birthday passing whilst being under the surveillance of a less than keen taker was not very appealing. He nodded meekly and pulled the red and yellow Gryffindor crested blanket he kept at the end of his school bed over his shoulders.

The last week of school passed a lot quicker than Harry wanted, and before he knew it he was hugging his best friends' goodbye for the summer, and watching them set off on the Hogwarts Express, to home, to where they would be spending a fun filled 6 weeks. He exerted a long breath then turned around; he would not feel sorry for himself. He'd spend his holiday flying, if Snape let him fly that was. He could get in some really good practise, that he desperately needed after a few cancelled practises in the past weeks due to Wood coming down with a mysterious illness, probably another devious scheme run by the Weasley twins who seemed intent on causing havoc on the last weeks of school every year, a tradition apparently.

'Potter, there you are.' Harry met the eyes of the speaker, who was none other than the person he was dreading meeting. Snape was wearing his familiar menacing look of distaste, aimed at Harry. 'Follow me; I have some ground rules to make clear.'

Harry groaned to himself and followed the billowing black robes of his professor, having to run to keep up with him.

'Hurry up Potter; I have things to be getting on with!'

'I am.' Harry muttered to himself and sped up a little.

After following Snape for what felt like an hour, they reached a tall door, magnificently decorated with venomous looking serpents. A Slytherins favourite thing, how fitting. Snape unwarded the door which was obviously protected with powerful dark magic, and to Harry's surprise, offered the door to Harry, a dark look on his face. Harry stood awkwardly, not knowing whether to cross the threshold and face the consequences, or wait for Snape to go first, and get in equally as much trouble for time wasting precious time.

'Potter, move!' Snape bellowed and jabbed the end of his wand into Harrys back, shoving him into the room, following and closing the door behind him. 'Sit down boy, don't touch anything.'

Harry sat down on a black leather couch that was situated in the middle of the room; around him the walls were painted a dark olive green, and completely empty. No pictures, nothing covered the walls, but then again what did he expect? Canvases of dainty flowers? No, he was clearly in Snape's private study, that was the last thing he should've expected to see. However, it was a different room to the one he had been brought to at the start of term, when Snape had threatened to get he and Ron expelled due to a flying car incident.

In front of him there was a dark mahogany desk; parchment was strewn over it messily, as if Snape had been searching for something frantically before he had departed to pick up Harry. Deciding he would rather leave with his life, Harry stayed sitting on the hard couch, touching anything in here would probably compromise his chance of attending the next school year.

He was just observing the tall grey cauldron in the corner of Snape's room, in which a violet coloured substance was bubbling away happily, when the Professor stormed in, a look that could kill on his face.

'Idiot, idiot children! Those red head freckled morons will be out of here before they've had the chance to even return!' He slammed a pale fist down on the desk with such force that parchment flew everywhere.

'Wingardium leviosa!' Snape seethed, speaking the spell so fast that it was barely audible. The parchment floated in the air, and with his assistance, landed in a neat pile on a metal file cabinet adjacent to Harry. Then finally Snape's black, cold eyes flickered to Harry, as if it was the last thing he wanted to do. He reminded him of snake. Harry felt his body straightening up and his hands begin to shake.

'…Sir, can I ask you why you decided to let me stay at Hogwarts?' Harry asked the question that he and his friends had been trying to decipher for a long time.

Snape looked directly at him, making him feel very small. 'Because Potter, I could make great use of you here, where I could not if you were locked up in an orphanage.'

Snape pointed at him and snapped, not losing eye contact. 'Rule number 1, you will never enter this study, or any of my private quarters, without permission. Which you will be unlikely to ever get.' He took a sharp intake of breath before continuing, Harry felt it wise not to say anything in response. 'Rule number 2, the forest is out of bounds, as usual. You will not be dying under my watch Mr Potter.'

Harry nodded nervously, his brow getting clammy and hot, his messy hair sticking to his face. Why did the professor have this reaction on him?

'Rule number 3 Potter, you will sleep in your usual dormitory bed, nowhere else. You will be there no later than 10pm. If I catch you out of bed later than that, then there will be serious, serious consequences. It is no longer school, I can punish you any way I feel fit.'

A flicker of fear licked down Harry's spine, causing him to arch his back reflexively. For a moment he thought he saw Snape smirk...so much for freedom though, but he had something Snape didn't know about, his father's invisibility cloak which would allow him to..bend the rules. Hermione wasn't here, he could do almost anything.

'Rule number 4, Potter are you paying attention? Don't make me repeat this. Rule number 4, dinner will be provided for you in your common room at 6pm precisely, if you are not there, you will go hungry. I have informed the kitchen elves you are allowed to specify, within reason, what you wish to eat. You are to write it down on the parchment which will be stuck to the entrance to the Great Hall. This isn't a luxury or an act of kindness Potter as you may think, during the term Dumbledore provides the menu for all staff and students, however he is not here, therefore I have no other option than to let you choose. You are to write what you wish to eat for breakfast lunch and dinner for the following day, in clear, legible scribe. Elves can be very dumb when it comes to reading. It will be your fault if you are misunderstood. Am I understood Potter?'

He was allowed to choose what to eat? Wow! Why was Snape being so nice? Probably an order from Dumbledore, who would likely be trying to make this more enjoyable for Harry, he knew of his opinion on his Potion Professor.

'Rule number 5, you have access to some of the classrooms and the library, they have been warded to allow you to enter, if they will be used constructively for your work. Normal rules for all apply, if I catch you mistreating anything you will be punished. You are to do your homework in the library or your common room where you can easily clean things up, I don't want to be finding bits of parchment left in rogue places. Also, I do not wish to be bothered about homework help.' Snape stood up suddenly and began to pace. 'And lastly, rule number 7. You are to attend evening classes with me every evening at 7pm. I will be teaching you my subject of course, and many others that Dumbledore has asked me to teach. If you miss any of my class' I will not hesitate to punish you Potter.'

Harry's jaw dropped. Evening classes with Snape? He couldn't bear potions class with his professor 3 times a week, let alone share his company every evening, the thought was daunting. Up to now everything had seemed quite brilliant, and he had been rather excited at the prospect at being allowed so much freedom and time to himself, but this had definitely ruined it for him. He scowled and nodded in acknowledgment.

'Yes sir.'

'Good, you may leave.' Snape waved his hand and turned to walk out of the door he had come storming out of before, but Harry interrupted.

'Sir, do you think it would be okay if I were to use the Quidditch pitch to practise my flying?' He gulped and felt the piercing stare of Snape, who was caught off guard, not expecting that.

'Yes, I don't see why not. Now hurry, the elves have prepared you lunch.'

And with that Snape left the room, and Harry felt his feet being moved to the door without his permission. What a summer he was going to have.

A/N; Updated on the 1/8/11 to add some details, an introduction and correct some mistakes. Enjoy.