After this show of defiance, Snape sat down at his desk, and steepled his fingers under his chin, deep in thought. As tempted as he was to deny the memories, he could see the truth of them in the boy's mind. But it didn't make sense! Why on earth would the boy act so arrogant here after having suffered that with his relatives? It made no sense, he decided. Harry Potter acted like no abused child that Snape had ever seen, and considering the type of families who tended to have children sorted into Slytherin house, he had seen his fair share. But then again, when had Harry Potter ever had the courtesy to be normal?
Snape sighed. As little as he cared for the boy, it was his duty as a professor to report the situation to Dumbledore, and while he was at it, McGonagall should probably know as well.
An hour later, he found himself stationed across a desk from Dumbledore, with Minerva McGonagall seated to his left.
"I know the boy's relatives don't treat him as well as they do their son, but surely things are not all that bad, Severus," Dumbledore said in a kindly voice.
"Not that bad, Headmaster? Would you care to see the memories I viewed, the cuts and bruises, the baggy clothes, the starvation, the abuse." Snape spit the last word out.
"I understand, Severus, that things are not easy for Harry there, but the blood wards-"
"The blood wards nothing. The blood wards will do him no good if he dies from injuries or malnutrition caused by the very people who are within those wards!"
"Albus," Minerva spoke for the first time. "Perhaps you should listen to him. I told you the day we dropped him off, those are the worst sort of muggles. Even considering the protection offered by the wards, we cannot sit by and watch one of our students be harmed."
Albus sighed, bowing his head in thought. "You must know, Severus, that I never believed Harry's treatment to be so severe. When he came to me requesting not to be sent back to his relatives...I thought that it was a young boy angry with his family, not a scared boy, afraid for his safety. I should have watched him more carefully," he said, almost to himself. Straightening up once more, he added "We must find somewhere safe for him to stay. Somewhere that is as protected as possible without the existence of the blood wards. Severus!" he perked up again, a smile smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye.
"Yes, Headmaster?" the potions professor drawled, not liking where this was going.
"I can think of only one place where Harry would be safe. The Burrow simply does not have the necessary magical protections, and it would be too obvious a place to hide him. It is possible that Grimmauld Place has been compromised, and in any case, I don't think he should be locked away for the holidays." Snape glared at him, prodding him to get to the point. "Well, it's obvious, isn't it, my boy? Prince manor! It's as well warded as any wizarding home I know of, and-"
"No." Snape cut him off curtly. "I was doing you and the cause a favor by teaching the boy occlumency at all. I refuse to allow the Potter brat to live in my home as well. Not to mention the fact that he's refusing to speak to me."
"Severus, I think you know the other reason why I believe you would be well suited to the job, yes?" Albus asked. Snape glanced over at Minerva, who was in turn looking curiously at Dumbledore, wondering at the sudden turn in the conversation. "The child needs help Severus, help that you know how to give," the Headmaster said quietly.
Snape let out a long suffering sigh. "Fine. I will keep the boy with me during the winter break, but should he step a toe out of line, he'll find himself out of my house before you can say Expelliarmus. No second chances." Albus's smile widened.
