Chapter 2: Talks and Tarts
A/N: I do not own the characters. The wonderful J.K Rowling does
A/N 2: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW! I get so lost sometimes when I don't get reviews ;-;
Snape watched the door in the quiet. Potter hadn't come out of the room in almost 2 days. Snape would be forced to take action if Potter didn't start coming down for his necessities. Food, attention, whatever the soon to be sixth year needed. He wasn't alone. He had to get that through his thick skull. Severus sighed and frowned at himself. He needed to keep his temper in check if he wanted to get on Potter's good side, that's for sure.
Maybe a bit of potion-making would do him some good. He could make one of the harder potions he was going to test his students with this year and see what could get the fifth and sixth years complaining. Oh, he knew they would. They always did. But this year he was going to be a bit more prepared.
"Potter, if you need anything I will be back shortly!" Snape made sure to yell up to the closed door. Despite the fact that Potter hadn't come down yet, he didn't want Potter to think he'd abandoned him. Course why he cared was still beyond him. He wasn't supposed to be Harry's guardian this year. Hell, he still hadn't told Dumbledore that he'd absconded with Harry in the first place. And quite honestly, the less Dumbledore knew, the better. It's not like he'd ever gone to visit the boy himself, that much was apparent.
Snape rounded a corner, glad that for the most part the castle was quiet. A few of the portraits were muttering around him, but he ignored them. He still couldn't get his head around the conundrum that was Potter. First the boy says he is abused, but then he doesn't immediately seek attention? The boy who lived was supposed to be this strong, defiant boy that Snape had loved picking on because he was spoiled. Apparently he'd been wrong about that. Still, if he wanted to change his views on Potter, he'd really need to get to know him… which meant talking, as Dumbledore had already ordered. He'd certainly talk to Potter. He needed to know everything that had happened.
"Snape, my dear boy…" Ugh, not now! "How did the meeting with Potter go? Did you boys talk?"
"Yes." Snape drawled, keeping uninterested eyes. "It went about as well as it could. Potter was ever the talker." He rolled his eyes for effect.
"Good, good!" Dumbledore smiled, absent-minded, unaware. "Where are you off to?"
"Getting some potion ingredients. I figured I'd get some ideas for my students in before the year starts."
"Well, you have plenty of time for that dear boy. May we have a chat in my office?"
Did he not want the ghosts to overhear? He frowned, slightly, but not enough for the older man to notice. "Of course."
He followed along, his robe sweeping behind him as he turned smoothly to follow the elder man. Dumbledore led him to the office and then shut the door behind them. "I've heard from a trusted source that Potter is not coming out of the house. I will need you to check on him again. I fear he may try something stupid, like plotting going to the Weasleys. I've warned them not to try to give Harry hope that he could stay there, but the Weasley boy he hangs with does not heed warnings very well. Harry is supposed to get used to not depending on his friends, as he really cannot for the war. Is this something you can chat with him about. Make sure he does not try to rely on them?"
Severus scoffed. "What am I Dumbledore, a babysitter? Potter was fine. Did you ever think that maybe he just wants to stay safe within his home?" Technically the castle gave a good definition of a home. When Snape was growing up he often viewed the castle as his home because of how his home life was. It was obvious that Potter could feel the same about it, right?
"I suppose you're right Severus. Still, I'd appreciate if you'd check up on him. Talk to him. I've been intercepting the young Weasley's mail so Harry will not get false hope, but I do not want him to give up hope. Give him a friend. Just be there for him. I don't expect you to care for the boy… just… care for the wizarding world as you have been. Do what needs done for the right side." Dumbledore grinned a smile that Severus would rip off if he wasn't better trained. That bastard thought honestly that keeping Harry from his friends was the best thing for him? How would he feel if he was in the same position?
"I will do my best." Severus said, no lie in his eyes or voice. He would take care of Potter, better than the old duff was. "May I go get my potion stuff now?"
"Of course dear boy. Enjoy your day." Dumbledore grinned with a twinkle in his eye.
Severus nodded and walked out. He needed to keep himself from hurting or yelling at the manipulative old man. If it wasn't for the fact that he didn't trust Voldemort and his side, he wouldn't have joined Dumbledore's without a fight. The elder man was just as.. if not more manipulative than Voldemort. The problem was, he was so certain it was for the greater good.
Snape shook his head which was beginning to ache. How he hated when Dumbledore tried to manipulate him. He knew what he was doing and he could easily have made Potter break in whatever way Dumbledore needed if he wanted to… but unknown to everyone but him, Potter was already broken. And Severus was honestly worried that the boy was beyond able to be fixed. He sighed and finally made his way into the closet that held some of his potions ingredients. He grabbed a few items, then walked into the potions lab to grab the rest.
He sighed for a moment, placing the items on the desk before him and looking forward. Within a couple months, there would be students here willing to learn happily. There would be young minds to teach and to mold. He was just glad that he was the teacher and not Dumbledore. Could you imagine the army Dumbledore could form if he tried?
He shook his head, blazing pain going through his head. He'd had migraines before and he hated them. He headed over to a cupboard to grab an essence to help his pain. He hated the need to trust in potions and spells with some of his ailments, but that's why he'd become a potions master of course. He needed to be able to trust who made his potions. Who could you trust if not yourself?
He waited a few moments before downing the essence and closed his eyes, allowing a minute for the potion to take effect. As soon as he began to feel the tension release he grabbed the vials and items again and took off towards his tower. His tower… he grinned at the thought. He would never deny that he didn't have the purest blood, like Voldemort, who could claim his lineage back to Salazar Slytherin. However he could say that he'd lived in this school, taken it as his home. It was as much his home as the student's.
Snape was almost back to the tower when he caught sight of a ghost following him. He glared at them, which caused whoever it was to run off in a different direction. He grinned. It was part of his Slytherin nature, to prefer the peace of being alone. The other part of that being that nobody trusted him, ghosts or humans alike. For the most part, Severus enjoyed that he could intimidate others with nothing more than a glare. Sometimes, it hurt his image though. Yes he was strong-willed, intimidating, and hard on students, but he was also lonely at times. He didn't have any friends. Despite how much he'd helped the light side, no one ACTUALLY trusted him. It was infuriating, to risk your life and then have nobody understand that it meant that was the side he was on.
"Ugh!" Severus threw the door open and made his way over to the long table in the dining room, setting up his potions equipment. He began to mumble to himself uselessly. Nothing he could say would make him feel better. No one understood him and no one cared to. "If they wanted me to be the loner who betrays them, then perhaps that's who they will get!"
He didn't notice the brown haired boy watching him from the top of the stairs, frowning. He wasn't liking how Severus was talking to himself. He walked quietly down the stairs, not wanting to disturb the potions master as he got even more frustrated. He picked up more ingredients and continued to working on his potion. Harry made his way over to the table, just watching what Severus was doing. Severus didn't seem to really notice him anyways.
When Snape finally looked up he frowned, looking at Harry. "Enjoying the lesson Potter?" He asked, scathing.
Harry raised his eyes, frowning, not sure how to respond. "I-sorry. Are… are you ok Professor?"
"Articulate Potter. Very. No wonder you have so many friends." Severus growled, not enjoying the fact that Potter had been spying on him. Harry looked as though he'd been slapped. He looked like he was about to run upstairs, but Severus reached over and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I-I didn't mean that Potter. I'm… sorry." God how he hated to apologize. He frowned. "I am fine Potter."
Harry nodded but kept his frown on. He still looked hurt. "I am going to go to bed."
"Wait Potter. You need to eat." Snape said indignantly. "I obviously need a break anyways."
Harry sighed and nodded. "Fine."
Snape smiled slightly. Small victories. He nodded to Harry to go up to the room for a bit and called for a house elf. "Yes, Mr. Snape sir?"
"I need some food. Preferably something more filling. Perhaps enough for a couple of days? Treacle tarts as well if you have them. And firewhisky as well please." He said, thinking of himself for once.
The little houself nodded. "Of course Mr. Snape." With a poof she was gone. Within minutes she reappeared with a tray of food. "Here you go sir. Does Master Snape need anything else?"
"That is good Tricie." Snape said with a small sigh. "Thank you."
For the moment he knew that he would eat enough to last him through tomorrow. He looked upstairs where Potter had obviously been listening from behind the door because as soon as the houself left, Potter was making his way down the stairs.
"Firewhisky?" Harry asked with a grin.
Severus frowned. "That's for me." Harry nodded but the small smile on his face that was beginning to fade was enough to melt Severus' heart some. "You can have a small bit."
Harry grinned a bit wider which made Snape's heart flutter. Potter would be the death of him. He smiled. Or something damn near.
Harry pulled a chair up to the dinner table, which Snape brought the food over to. "Looks like she brought up some meat pies, some sandwiches and treacle tarts for dessert."
Harry looked up wide eyed, surprise in them. "I hope that's not all for tonight. I'm not that hungry."
"You wouldn't be, would you? How often did you eat at home Potter?" Harry bit his lip, keeping himself from speaking. Snape growled. "How much Potter?"
It was obvious the boy didn't eat enough. He was skinny in a way that screamed anorexic. He worried for him. And if it had anything to do with those damn muggles...
"I-" Harry shrugged, as if it made it less of a big deal. "Probably twice a week… maybe less?"
"Fucking muggles." Snape growled and stood up. He wanted to go kill them. Potter put a hand on his arm.
"Please don't…" He begged, voice and eyes pleading.
What was Potter, a seer? He growled. "You're never going back there Potter, I can promise you that. Eat what you can."
Harry nodded, looking grateful that Snape actually listened to him. It was a nice change from what he was used to. He grabbed a treacle tart and chewed on it, surprisingly hungry enough to finish something he enjoyed. It was one of the treats they had at Hogwarts that he never tired of. Pumpkin pastries and the like were good enough, but Harry tired of them because they served them far too often. He couldn't say the same about Treacle tarts. Harry was beginning to get full though. He was afraid of what Snape would say, but he seemed to understand well enough. He sat back in the chair, done eating. Snape poured him a glass of Firewhisky. "Didn't want you to have any on an empty stomach."
He grinned happily and took the glass, sipping it. He sputtered it out. "Ugh!" Harry frowned and closed his eyes, taking another sip. This made Snape grin happily.
"Not too bad then, huh?" He asked, poking a bit of fun at Potter.
Harry shrugged and drank it up. "Thanks for the food and drink professor. I do think it's time for bed though."
Snape nodded. "Sleep well Potter."
Harry walked up the stairs, but unknown to the elder professor couldn't keep his eyes off of the elder man, watching him with curiosity. What did the elder man want with him. Unlike… his uncle… Harry groaned at the thought, Snape didn't try to get him drunk or do anything to him. In fact, Snape was being kinder to him than he had ever been. It caused Harry to spend that night in thought.
