AN/ Hello everyone. New chapter, yay! Not much to say about this one. Just set up, mostly. Anyways, pleas read and review.

Chapter 2

Harry grew up in a rather large orphanage and it was easily one of the largest in the city. Mr. and Mrs. Dursley were not very kind people; though they wouldn't let outsiders know that. Like Harry, all the children hated them. They were not physically abusive, but to say that most of the children would leave well-adjusted and without angst was a lie. There was one thing that Harry did love, however while he was in that city. Prof. McGonagall would take Harry and a few other children after school to tutor them and help them with their studies. Prof. McGonagall's classroom was right next to the music hall. Harry remembered arriving early one day. Study time wouldn't start for another hour or so. Harry was about to walk inside the room just to wait when he heard a piano playing. Curisoity got the better of him. He followed the sound to the music room and saw an old man playing an upright piano. He finished a rather energetic number, and Harry couldn't help but clap. The man looked back, smiling when he saw Harry. He stood and did a bow. He beckoned Harry over, and asked his name. Harry remebered asking him how long he had been playing. The man grabbed Harry's hands, and looked at his fingers. 'You have a pianist fingers." The man said with a satisfied nod.

It was from then that Harry spent at least an hour every other day after school learning to play piano from the man. James Hawkings (Harry's piano teacher) was patient with Harry, but he picked up playing quickly. He taught Harry how to read music, and taught him all about music. The Dursley's found about this; and made him get a job at the nearby church and they took the money. Harry managed to always stash away at least a few dollars each time so the Dursley's couldn't have it. When he learned where McGonagall was from, he knew he would use that money to escape the orphanage and go to Scarlet.

X

Harry shifted nerviously in his chair as a Professor Flitwick seated himself looking over Harry's short resume. "You are not a student here at the U, Mr. Potter."

"No sir." Harry said politely.

"So why so keen on this job, offer? You have a full time job at Mr. Briggs'. Wonderful man he is, we go way back." Flitwick added dismissivly.

"Well sir, I am hoping to apply soon. I've been saving up for the last two years when I first arrived here. I hoped this would not only give me money to do that, but I hoped that I would finally know what I want to study while im here."

"Ah, an unchosen path then? Hm?"

Harry nodded softly, a little embarressed. "I'm not quite sure what I like, or would be good at doing."

"Not to worry Mr. Potter, most of us didn't when we first left school at seventeen." Flitwick twirled his wand in his small hands. "I do see that you are a wizard, but an untrained one."

"I didn't know I was a wizard until I was eleven. However, my caretakers don't approve of magic, so they wouldn't let me go to Hogwarts. It wasn't until I met another witch that tutored us, that I got my wand when I was fifteen." Harry explained, a slight frown crossing his face. He was praying that Flitwick wouldn't look down on him for this, there was nothing he could do about it. He was good though, and picked it up quick. McGonagall even said he was very powerful, but never elaborated more than that. She just taught him how to control his power and the most she could in the short time she had with him.

"Not a problem. As long as you know what you are doing." Flitwick looked over his desk at Harry. "You, I think, would make an excellent addition to the staff. I may even be able to arrange for a bit of private practice with one of our wizarding professors, but no promises."

"Thank you sir!" Harry smiled largely. "I appreciate it." He bowed his head gently.

"We are going to assign you to be the assistant for Prof. Snape. He is fairly new, but a wonderful professor. He will be getting a greater workload as we are going to be moving him up to the higher-levels here in the next year or two." Flitwick said and stood. He rounded the table and Harry reached down to shake his hand. "You can find him in the music hall. His room is number fourteen. Show up tomorrow at 6'o'clock, sharp. I will inform Prof. Snape and we will arrange for everything." Harry had gone red at the mentioned of Snape, remembering the first day he had seen him. He followed Flitwick out of the office and down the hallway to the entrance hall.

x

"Oh! You get to work with Prof. Snape! Isnt he the teacher you saw the other day." Hermione smiled brightly as the two walked along the beach boardwalk.

"Yeah." Harry said, sipping at a butter beer.

"Exciting. I hear he is pretty stand-offish and scary sometimes." Hermione said thoughtfully. "I heard he makes people cry."

"Gee, thanks for boosting my confidence about working with this guy." Harry frowned and he gently shoved Hermione's shoulder. Hermione just laughed.

x

Severus Snape looked down to the department head. Flitwick looked happy as he told him the news that he was going to be getting an assistant. Severus' mouth twisted and he glanced away. "I don't need an assistant. I am doing well on my own." Flitwick just shook his head. Prattling on about how it was OK, and that the man seemed very capable. Severus didn't have the energy to continue arguing the point. Severus soon found himself alone in his classroom. Students had already left for the day. He turned, looking out the large windows. He started to pack his violin, and his papers for grading. A short while later, and Severus was inside his home, perched beside his fireplace grading papers. He frowned, glancing to the mountains of paper he still had left. Maybe he did need an assistant... Severus shook his head pushing the thought from his mind and continued to grade.

x

The next Monday, Harry found himself standing outside the door to class & practice room fourteen. He was early, as he was supposed to be, and knocked once before letting himself inside. The teacher he had met before sat quietly at his desk, grading papers, it seemed. Harry cleared his throat, and walked forward. "Professor Snape?" Harry stood before the desk. Severus glanced up to Harry, blinking briefly in surprise.

"You are my assistant?" The man sneered, and Harry gulped slightly. No, he wouldn't let this man get under his skin.

Harry stiffened his posture. "Yes, Professor Snape. I am."

Severus Snape studied the boy, watching Harry closely. After a few minutes, he finally looked down to his papers, continuing to mark the pages. "I need you to sort files. Back of the classroom, closet B. Filing cabinets need to be reorganized. Once classes are over the chairs and stands need to be whipped down. The floor swept and chairs stacked. Those chores will be done daily, understood?"

Harry just nodded. "Yes, Sir." Harry started back to the back closet. "How are these sorted?" He called back.

"The first three are purely music sheets. The bottom drawer will be collections and books in the third. Start with those first; file them by composer and then title." Severus instructed.

About five minutes before class began and students came in-side the room, Severus wrote on the board the instructions and plan for the day. Harry glanced out of the closet, to the professor's handwriting. It was a neat, tidy script that Harry was amazed most people could read. It looped and swirled elegantly. There were many unnecessary curves and swirls; and it reminded Harry of the old script in wizarding books. Harry blushed, realizing the teacher had caught him staring. He turned back to finish filling.

x

It took Harry the entire day, and to his dismay, he found that he had only filled one filing cabinet. Harry groaned, and looked around at all the pulled out files, which he had neatly organized on the floor. He frowned, looking up to the clock. Classes would end in five minutes. He started to carefully stack the unfilled papers on top of one of the filing cabinets, taking careful note of where he placed things. The professor dismissed the class and watched as they put away their things and started to leave the room.

"You couldn't even finish this in one day?" Harry jumped when he heard the dark, cool voice behind him.

Harry looked back to the professor who stood behind him. "I should be done by tomorrow." Harry said calmly.

Severus just sneered. "You should have been done today." He waved a hand. "Sweep the floors and whipe everything down." With a turn of his heel, Severus walked away from Harry. Harry glared at the man's back. Great, he was working for a pompous asshole. Oh joy.

About forty minutes later, Harry finished. He looked up to the professor who was grading and completely ignoring him. "Professor Snape? I'm done." Severus just glanced up through his dark eyelashes. Harry could feel heat in his face, and he quickly willed it away. The professor scanned the room, then shrugged.

"At least you seem to be able do something right." Severus drawled out slowly. "You're free for the day." He waved a hand toward the door. "Be on time tomorrow."

Harry's knuckles went white around the broom handle. He bit his tongue and nodded, stiffly walking from the room after putting the broom away. It wasn't until he was on his bike and speeding out of the university did he release the sudden anger that had filled him in the classroom. "Do something right? What an ass. Does he not realize how much paper-work was in those cabinets!" He glared as he peddled down the road heading back home. "I'll show him, I'm not worthless like he thinks."

x

Severus soon found himself home once more, and again grading papers. He frowned as he read one of the many reports he had assigned to the students. 'I didn't realize anyone could be this bloody stupid'. He thought as he marked a large 'F' at the top of the paper. He continued on. 'I didn't think it was possible but this one is worse!' He sighed, propping his chin on his hand. He glanced around to the paper pile next to him. This was going to be another all-nighter. He sighed, he was far to old to pull all-nighters. 'Probably should stop putting it off then.' He marked the paper in hand and put it in the complete pile on his other side. 'Maybe I can get that Potter boy to help me grade...' He thought. 'No, probably not a good idea. He can barely finish a simple organization project in a day. Besides, I bet he doesn't know a damn thing about music. He wouldn't know what he was looking at. He would probably pass everyone if it just sounded right.' Severus rubbed his temple, reaching for his tea. 'I should be nicer. I should give him more than a day to make a judgment.' He mused as he half-heartedly read a paper. His class was full of dim-wits, clearly. 'Eh, that would be going to easy on him. I have a reputation to uphold after all.' Severus smirked slightly to himself.

Review please