Disclaimer: Harry Potter ist copyright J.K.Rowling & Warner Entertainment. Keine kommerzielle Nutzung ist beabsichtigt.

Authors Note: Since my first post got all messed up, I reposted. I hope the formatting works this time .

Chapter 1
It was just 5 days into the holidays. The great halls and corridors were pleasantly quiet, except for some steps resounding now and then. The man in the black robe had just taken a book from the shelf and was about to settle comfortably into the worn leather chair in his small living room.
He needed some rest, definitely, after all the trouble of last term. If he was lucky he wouldn't even be summoned for some time.
He opened the book. It looked old, very old and its dark leather binding showed more than one stain .He had come across it in Knockturn Alley, when he had been to replenish his stocks, at least the more common ones.. It was written in a quite old fashioned hand and he had reason to believe that it was a relic from none other than the great Paracelsus himself.
He took a sip of his tea, leaned back. And suddenly the fireplace went green. The man stiffened visibly as his features settled in his usual unreadable mask.
"Severus..my boy..."
Dumbledore..of all people..the headmaster of Hogwarts.
"Headmaster."he nodded warily.
"I am sorry to disturb You, but would You do me the favour of coming up to my quarters?. I need to talk to You..."
"Very well. I will be there in a minute"

Dumbledores face disappeared and with an unwilling groan Severus Snape rose, carefully put his book back on the shelf and went to see the headmaster... though not without locking carefully locking all the doors behind him.
You never know, he thought as he strode down the corridors, his customary black robes billowing behind him, making him look like a giant black bat.. which was exactly what the students called him behind his back.
He was not at all pleased with this unexpected summons. Visiting Dumbledore spelt trouble more often than not and he did deserve some rest.. but then...maybe the headmaster was just in one of his socializing moods and felt like simply sharing cup of hot chocolate, a beverage the somber potions master did not exactly relish.
Dumbledore did not look like he only wanted a pleasant chat.
"This must be serious" Snape thought.
"Sit down, Severus... a cup of hot chocolate? No?Very well then..." Dumbledore leaned back into his chair.

"You know I have several sources of information..reliable sources of whom you are by no means the least important. News have reached me, that seem..bad.. very bad...Obviously some loyal retainers want to ingratiate themselves with Voldemort and plan some kind of ..attack on Harry..."
Snape raised an eyebrow. Potter again, he groaned innerly.
"It seems to me I should have heard of such activities..."
"Not necessarily...do not frown, I trust You Severus, with my life even, but You know as well as I do, probably better, that among Voldemorts followers trust and friendship are not exactly..encouraged. Someone might think You are in much too good graces with Voldemort, don't You agree?"
The old headmasters eyes behind the half-moon glasses looked concerned.
Snape slowly nodded. "You may be right. I will be careful.. I suppose You have already taken all measures necessary to protect Potter? Members of the order placed strategically to guard him?"
Dumbledore sighed.

"Unfortunately there are some minor complications. I do not have all the people I need. The ministry will not listen and in any case they would try to take over young Harry's custody if I let them barge in. The boy has to be removed from his home until we can be sure that the Deatheaters are either incapable of locating the Dursleys home or have discarded it as of no importance to their plans"
" I can see Your point. I suppose it would be feasible to place Mr Potter in the household of some reliable member of the order"
"Some member of the order whose private whereabouts are unknown to Voldemorts followers and who has no family that might be put in jeopardy by Harry's presence"
He mustered his potions master with the same encouraging look he might give a shy first year at loss to answer a teachers question.
Dumbledore couldn't be serious, could he?
The headmaster sighed.
"Severus, my boy, You would do the order and myself a great service, not to mention young Harry whose very life might be at stake right now"
The potions master swallowed hard.
"Surely Albus, I don't feel that it would be in the best interest of Mr Potter..and myself to place him in my custody?"
"I know You and Harry do have quite some history, but I also happen to remember, that You saved his life. And..if I may remind You, Harry is the son of Lily Evans. You did quite.-well... fancy her, didn't You? Maybe this would be a chance to get to know him better?"
The potions master stiffened visibly.
"You may not...my emotions past and present are of no concern in this matter.."
"But they are, Severus..they are...Harry being who he is needs protection and who could better be suited than You? You are a trusted member of the order, yet the death eaters would not suspect You, as You are well known to harbour a particular dislike for Harry.
And You would be more than capable of defending Harry if it came to the worst"
The old wizard rose and put his hand on Snapes shoulder.
"I would not ask You, if there was any other possibility, Severus, and it wont be long..."
"How long..exactly?"

"Until the start of term..at the very longest" Dumbledore replied.
"I knew You wouldn't disappoint me..."
There were times when Snape felt like hating the old man.. always manipulating..always succeeding in making people do just what he wanted them to do...
Grudgingly, he admitted defeat.
"Very well then. I suppose You will provide me with further information as to where i am to pick up Mr Potter?"
"It would be easiest to simply take him from his aunts and uncles place right now. I sent an owl, but Harry did not answer.. that is one reason among others why I asked You Severus, I am concerned, very concerned. Will You fetch him and apparate to Your home with him?"
"I will" Snape simply answered. What else was there to say? He would do as the old man wanted, as he used to do, well as most people used to do.
He rose.
"Then I had better excuse myself. I will send my baggage ahead and collect Mr Potter at his uncles place.. No doubt he will be very disappointed to have to spend some time away from his privileged existence as the boy who lived. I do not however intend to pamper the young hero..."
"Don't be too hard on him Severus, after all, he is just a boy..."
Snape snickered .Just a boy. ? The crown prince of Gryffindor ? Maybe showing Mr Potter his place might prove some small recompense for loosing his spare privacy and quiet this summer.
Dumbledore watched the sombre figure of his potions master as he swooped down the stairs.
"I Just hope this works.." he murmured as he gently stroked Fawkes " I just hope so..."