Real quick note: what I said would happen in this chapter in the author's note of the last chapter is not likely to happen or it might but it depends on long this chapter will be.
Two
The Headmaster's Decision
In spite of all of his misgivings at the thought of having to spend the rest of the summer with the snarky git of a Potions Professor who also happens to hate him with a passion, Harry found that the small cottage in which Snape lived was actually quite comfortable. It was definitely better than living with his aunt and his uncle before they had abandoned him and the wards around the household fell.
Harry thought that having to stay with the professor who hated him would be close to living in hell but he soon realized that Prince Cottage, as he had learned was what the cottage was called, was ten times better than Number 4 Privet Drive. The fact that Snape, even if he glowered, snapped or otherwise ignored Harry, fed him, gave him a roof over his head and was actually the one that retrieved him when the wards fell, immediately put him above his relatives.
In all honesty, Harry had expected his aunt and uncle to abandon him years ago but he supposed with recent events, his traumatic nightmares of Cedric's death that caused him to wake up screaming, the threat of Voldemort, the occasional bursts of accidental magic that Harry thought would go away now that he was at Hogwarts, merely pushed them into their decision now.
Harry often wondered if his aunt and uncle would sign a contract with Voldemort himself in order to get rid of him and he was actually glad that they decided to take the route less traveled and abandon him instead. He always knew they didn't like him as they went out of their way to make sure he understood that; neglecting to fed him, tossing him into a cupboard for the first ten years of his life, giving him an impossible list of chores to complete, hitting him occasionally whenever he did something bad, such as accidental magic, or got Dudley in trouble and generally behaving as if he was an unnatural freak who shouldn't be treated as a human being.
Harry had also been taught from a very young age that he was not supposed to speak of what occurred in the Dursley household to anyone for his aunt and uncle made him believe as though no one would take him seriously anyway. In truth, Harry often believed what his aunt and uncle told him, that he was nothing more than a freak and a burden, and so he knew better than to tell anyone. One time, he tried to tell a teacher and when the teacher confronted the Dursleys about it, his aunt and uncle lied through their teeth and then locked Harry in his cupboard for a week straight with little to no food and water. After that day, Harry rarely trusted anyone enough to let them know about how bad his home life was.
Hermione and Ron knew but that was only because Ron had seen first hand of what his aunt and uncle did, locking him in his room at the beginning of second year after the incident with Dobby and barely feeding him until Ron busted him out, and he had spoken to Hermione about it. Both of them tried to convince Harry to go to their Head of House, Professor McGonagall, but he refused for he believed that McGonagall wouldn't believe him anyway. There was also the fact that he didn't trust adults and his uncle had taught him from a young age to never talk to anyone about what he went through. So, in the end, Harry stayed silent even though he did attempt to go to Dumbledore but Dumbledore still sent him back. That act had shaken Harry's trust in the old headmaster but he figured that if he had told the headmaster the truth then there was a good chance that Dumbledore would have taken him out of there, if he believed him.
Harry was currently lying on his back in the room that was twice the size of his old room back at the Dursley household. It was well after lunchtime and he had already eaten, if very little, while Snape was busy brewing potions in the basement after lunch. Hedwig was perched beside the window with her face tucked beneath her wing, fast asleep, and Harry found himself examining the snowy owl even as his thoughts drifted.
He found himself thinking along the lines of one of the many subjects that has been in his mind since he came to Prince Cottage and that subject being Snape's hatred of him. Harry never understood why Snape hated him so much; it was as if the very instant Snape first looked at Harry, he loathed him and Harry never knew the reason. But if he hated you then why would he retrieve you when the wards fell? His conscience asked him silently and Harry, frowning, rolled onto his side. And what about in first year? If Snape hated you then would he have tried to save your life when Quirrell was hexing your broom?
He had to admit that his conscience was right; Snape had saved his life in first year and, technically speaking, he had again by getting Harry away from the Dursley household once the wards fell. He didn't know whether or not Snape was ordered to do this or not but he didn't want to get on Snape's bad side by asking him. Snape already barely talked to him and only ever tossed glowers at him whenever they were in the same room together.
Sighing, Harry stood up before walking out of the room and down the hallway toward the kitchen. Snape had given him free reign of the house and the land around it, so long as he avoided the basement, Snape's quarters and did not go past the wards, and Harry had often explored the portions of the house the professor he disliked the most owned.
In the three days since Harry had come to the cottage, he had learned that the cottage was situated on the countryside on the outskirts of London. It was surrounded on three sides by a small forest that Snape had forbidden Harry from entering and there was a small pond in the backyard. It was a peaceful sort of place and Harry, in spite of who it was he was forced to stay with, found himself in a place of serenity that he never thought he'd experience.
Harry walked over to the refrigerator before opening it and pouring himself a glass of ice cold water before he sat down at the table in the center of the combo room. He was still sitting there, enjoying the serene atmosphere and sipping at his water, when Snape appeared from his basement. "Well I see you're making the most of this, Potter," he sneered.
Harry placed the drink on the table. "This place is nice," he said. He decided that if he and Snape were going to survive then he may as well stay on the Potions Professor's good side, if he had one that is. "It's so peaceful."
"Yes," Snape said gruffly obsidian eyes impassive. "That is precisely why my ancestors built it here."
"Oh. Well, I like it all the same, Professor Snape," Harry said politely.
Snape sneered. "It's a miracle. Potter is actually being polite to someone for a change," he said curtly.
"I can be polite when I want to be, Professor," Harry flared back.
"You sure do have a funny way of showing it, Potter," Snape snapped back.
"It's not like I wanted this anymore than you did. I would have been happy to be picked up by anyone else instead of you," Harry snapped back.
"Be that as it may, I was the only one available to pick you up. Too bad, Potter. I'm sure you'd much rather spend your time with your mangy mutt of a godfather then your snarky Potions Professor but life's not fair," Snape retorted.
Harry glowered before he rubbed his head knowing full well that these verbal battles between himself and his professor weren't getting them anywhere. He may not like Snape, and Snape may hate him, but this would be a long summer if they kept snapping at each other. Then again, Harry wasn't sure if he would be spending the entire summer with Snape anyway.
"It's too bad someone else couldn't have picked me up and I had to get stuck with Snape," Harry murmured not realizing he had said those words out loud.
"Too bad huh?" Snape sneered. "Perhaps I should have left you there, Potter."
"Maybe you should have," Harry snapped back.
"I would have had it not been for orders, Potter," Snape hissed. "And besides, you wouldn't have been able to take the Death Eaters who would have attacked had we not left when we did. Or did you think you could take on the Death Eaters? Typical Gryffindor. You think yourself invincible, you're just as arrogant as your father."
Harry growled angrily at Snape's words glaring at Snape and hoping, not for the first time, that someone else had picked him up from the Dursleys. The two of them were still glowering at each other when the floo flared to life. Snape glanced up before sweeping out of the kitchen and into the living room and Harry followed him.
The white haired head of Headmaster Dumbledore was poking out of the green flames. "Severus, may I step through?" Dumbledore asked.
"May as well. You will anyway," Snape said flatly.
Dumbledore disappeared and, a moment later, reappeared through the flames before he straightened up and dusted himself off. "Ah hello Harry, nice to see you," he greeted Harry.
"You too, Professor," Harry replied.
Dumbledore turned his gaze to Snape. "We have been unable to locate the Dursley family and the Order seems to think that the family has left London," he said. "Be that as it may, I have also spoken to many of the Order members but, with Tom's return, they are much too busy to do what I have asked of them. Sirius is still not yet cleared of charges and his place is not well protected and, in truth, no other place is protected enough for the boy."
"Er…if I might ask, what are you talking about?" Harry intervened sounding confused.
Dumbledore glanced at him. "Why, we are attempting to find someplace for your to stay for the rest of the summer," he replied.
"Oh. Can't I go with Sirius?" Harry asked.
"I'm afraid not, my boy. That, for one, would be the first place the Death Eaters will look for you once they know the wards have fallen and have reported to their master that you aren't there anymore. And no other place offers enough protection for you."
"What about the Weasleys?" Snape asked.
"Molly has too many children to take care of as well as her duties to the Order and the wards around the household are not strong enough to repel the Death Eaters."
Order? Harry had heard that mentioned twice and he couldn't help but wonder what this Order was. "What Order?" he asked.
"Why, the Order of the Phoenix of course, my boy," Dumbledore replied smiling cheerfully, his blue eyes twinkling madly. "Perhaps I will explain more about the Order at a later date. Right now, we need to find someplace for you to stay that will be well protected."
"What about Remus?"
"No, I'm afraid not. His place is not protected enough for you, my boy, and his…condition will prevent him from giving you the protection you need, especially once a month. In fact, Severus," Dumbledore turned to look at the black haired Potions Professor, "there is only one candidate that I can trust to watch over Harry and protect him."
"What are…?" Harry began before it dawned on him just as Snape growled, "No, Albus!"
"But Severus…"
"I cannot and will not do it," Snape hissed. "I retrieved him from the Dursley household but I will not watch the arrogant spoiled little brat for the entire summer."
"Hey, arrogant spoiled little brat can hear you, you know," Harry snapped hating that Snape was speaking as if he wasn't there.
"Be quiet, Potter," Snape snapped at Harry glowering at him.
"Why don't I get a say in this? I don't want to stay with this…snarky git!"
"Harry, you must be respectful to your teachers," Dumbledore chided him while Snape glowered at him.
"Why should I? What's he ever done for me?"
"Oh I don't know. Saved your life when Quirrell was hexing your broom," Snape said curtly. "Or have you forgotten that, deeming yourself too arrogant and spoiled to give a damn about someone who saved your life?"
"Stop calling me spoiled and arrogant!" Harry shouted.
"Why should I bother lying?" Snape hissed.
"Both of you silence!" Dumbledore snapped his aura of magic flaring around him in anger waves and Snape and Harry fell silent. "Severus, your place is the only place that is warded enough to where Tom and his followers will be unable to find you and, even if they do, will be unable to penetrate the wards. Not to mention your duties to the Order will keep him from suspecting you of anything."
"I…"
"This is not a debate, Severus," Dumbledore said flatly. "Whether you two like it or not, you two are going to spend the rest of the summer together for Harry must be protected now that Tom has come back."
Snape glowered angrily at Dumbledore. "Fine," he said angrily.
Harry glared angrily at Snape before he muttered, "fine," as well.
"Splendid," Dumbledore said putting his hands together merrily. "Now then, I must get going for I have to speak with Auror Tonks and Moody." With that, the Headmaster of Hogwarts turned around before floo traveling away leaving Harry and Snape alone.
Severus was less than pleased at the thought of having to spend the rest of his summer watching over and protecting the bloody Brat-Who-Lived. He could have spent his time doing a great many things but now he had to make sure the bloody brat didn't go get himself killed. His promise to Lily, and Dumbledore's decision, forced his hand but Severus did not like it one bit.
Potter liked it even less than Severus did and was now spending all of his time in his room, most likely mopping about how he couldn't spend his summer with his mangy mutt of a godfather. Severus had his own things to worry about although he did understand the majority of Albus's decision. The fact that the dark lord did not know about Prince Cottage and could not penetrate the wards if he did and the fact that Severus was spying on the dark lord and supposedly hated the Boy-Who-Lived with a passion supported Albus's decision.
That did not mean Severus had to like it.
His life as a spy would be tested when the dark lord called his loyal Death Eaters, and Severus, to his side again and Severus was already coming up with any sort of lie to throw the dark lord off his trail. The dark lord was likely to know that the wards had fallen and the boy wasn't there by now considering that the Death Eaters had only been a couple of kilometers away when Severus had taken Potter from the household. He only hoped that no scout for the Death Eaters had seen him when he and Potter apparated away.
That was the last thing he needed.
Potter appeared from his room at that moment looking sullen but didn't bother glancing at Severus as he walked over to the kitchen most likely to get something to eat. Severus narrowed his eyes; the boy was sullen at not getting what he wanted like the spoiled brat he is but there seemed to be something off with him. He decided that he would not worry about it; his job was to protect Potter, not discover everything that is wrong with him, if there was anything to begin with.
Severus walked into the kitchen and Potter glanced up before narrowing his eyes as he took a drink of the glass of water he had in his hands. Severus narrowed his eyes as he observed the boy; it was near dinnertime and yet Severus remembered how little Potter ate during lunch. Then he had assumed that Potter was just too spoiled to be thankful toward the meal and, now that it was nearing dinnertime, he figured it would be the same yet again.
He walked over to the stove before beginning to gather the ingredients together to begin making dinner. Potter watched him and, before long, dinner was made and placed on the table. Potter, Severus noted, was staring at the food as if he's never seen anything like it, or has never seen so much before. He sneered. "Are you going to eat or not, Potter?" he snapped.
"What? Oh right." Potter flushed before beginning to fill his plate and, surprising Severus just like last time, he waited until the Potions Professor started eating before he ate. Severus had noticed that odd behavior at lunch, and the fact that Potter went out of his way to get as little food as possible, and it would appear that Potter was behaving the same way during dinner.
Typical of a spoiled brat, Severus thought as he ate.
Potter finished before standing up and placing his dish in the sink. When Severus finished eating and used his wand to send the empty dirty dishes to the sink, he was surprised when Potter began getting the water ready to wash them. He hadn't done that at lunch because the food Severus had served didn't require plates and yet he was actually washing the dishes.
"Potter, what are you doing?" Severus asked flatly after several minutes of watching in puzzlement. What do you think he's doing? His conscience snapped at him but Severus told his conscience firmly to shut up.
"Washing the dishes, sir," Potter replied looking concentrated at his work even if one of the pans he was attempting to wash was taking him a long while to finish but he kept at it.
"Potter, that's what magic is for," Severus snapped although he was amazed at how quickly the boy was able to get the majority of the dishes done in such a short time. In truth, the only dishes he had left where the pans and Severus wondered when this happened.
Potter withdrew his hands before glancing up frowning. "But I thought I wasn't allowed to do magic. I'm not of age yet," he protested.
"Underage magic can be performed so long as there is a full grown wizard to supervise you and/or no muggles can see you," Severus explained although he had no idea why he took it upon himself to explain anything to the brat.
"Oh…well this is how I'm supposed to do them while I was with the Dursleys," Potter said turning his gaze back to the dishes.
Severus was briefly startled at that. So the Dursleys did have you do chores? he thought silently observing the boy. Then why do you continue to act like a spoiled brat?
"Potter, just leave them be," Severus said finally when it was clear that Potter wouldn't be able to get the stain out of one of the pans no matter how hard he scrubbed it.
Potter glanced at him. "What?"
"Are you hard of hearing, Potter? Or does everything I say go in one ear and out the other?" Severus sneered angrily.
Potter's eyes flashed with anger. "I heard you just fine, professor," he snapped. "There's no need to get insulting."
"I was not being insulting, Potter. You would know if I was truly being insulting."
Potter scowled at Severus but otherwise did what he was told and stopped washing the dishes.
"How were you able to finish so many of those in such a short time, Potter?" Severus asked despite himself.
"How else? Aunt Petunia had me do all the dishes while I was there, not to mention other chores. Not so much of a spoiled brat now, am I?" Potter sneered.
"Watch your cheek, Potter," Severus snapped angrily.
"I wasn't being cheeky," Potter snapped.
The two of them were glaring at each other again and Severus could almost feel a headache coming on. In spite of the wards around the cottage, Severus was pretty sure that Albus had made a mistake in putting the two of them together. He rubbed his head before glowering at Harry who merely glowered back at him.
"This is not working out," Severus said. "The headmaster was wrong to place us together."
"You think?" Potter said sarcastically.
"Will you shut up and listen for once in your life?"
"I do so listen when I have to."
"But do you retain anything that you hear? I thought not."
"I didn't even have a chance to answer that question!"
"Don't take that tone with me, Potter."
"You're the one that started it. You asked me a question and then you didn't even give me any bloody time to answer it. And for your information, I do retain what I hear."
"You have a funny way of showing it, Potter. As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted…"
"I did not rudely interrupt you! You had already finished talking when I spoke up."
Severus scowled angrily. "And you call this not rudely interrupting me?"
"I wasn't talking about this time!"
"Will you just shut up and listen?"
Potter glared sullenly at him but otherwise stayed silent.
"Anyway," Severus went on, "this is not going to work out if we keep going at each other's throats like this. Sooner or later, one of us is going to end up killing the other."
"You're the one that started it."
"Will you shut up? I'm proposing a truce, Potter," Severus snapped. "At the very least, it will allow us to make it through the summer without killing each other."
"What sort of truce?" Potter asked suspiciously.
"To say the least, we will do what we can to try to stop arguing constantly and attempt to live together on neutral ground."
Potter narrowed his eyes although Severus was sure the boy was thinking about what he had said about the truce. "Why would you be offering this to me, professor? You hate me."
Severus was briefly surprised at that. "I do not hate you, Potter," he said flatly. "And as I said before, we'd end up killing each other if we didn't come up with some sort of truce."
Potter looked surprised. "You don't hate me?"
"I may not like you, Potter, but that does not mean I hate you."
Potter was silent for a long moment. "I think a truce might be best," he said finally. "So truce?"
"I suppose," Severus said flatly. "Truce."
There was absolutely no telling how long that truce was going to last however.
A/n what do you think?
Blaze: well Harry and Severus have a truce
Severus: (sneers) I give it a day tops
Sirius: (snorts) I give it an hour
Harry: (sighs) I give it two days
Darth: let's hope they don't hex each other before this is over.
Blaze: (chuckles mysteriously) I hope I have kept Severus and Harry in character but if I haven't then I'm sorry and once again, this story IS SET IN AN ALTERNATE UNIVERSE. Oh and if the reviewers would like to propose their own guesses as to how long this truce between Snape and Harry will last then you are free to post your guesses in your reviews.
Darth: what's going to happen in the next chapter?
Blaze: Harry will see what Severus has to go through and discover Severus's position within the Order of the Phoenix as well as some letters from some friends. Please review and I will post chapter three as soon as I possibly can but I doubt it'll be anytime soon
