"Love truth, but pardon error."
― Voltaire

Chapter Four

The next two days passed quickly. Severus spent most of the day at the library while Potter did Merlin only knew what. The seven year old was buried in books passed his neck, and if the emerald eyed wizard didn't make it a habit of coming to get him for meals, Severus was sure he would had missed every single lunch so far.

The little Potions Master was disappointed in Minerva's actions. Sure, she came Friday evening to see how he had settled, but took no time to actually talk to him. It must be the childish mind which automatically assumed strange expectations. She was his friend as an adult, but it was clear that having a child on her hands was not her forte.

Nevertheless, here he was, on a Sunday evening, having an argument with Potter about the following day.

''I don't want to go.''

''Com'on Severus. I can't leave you here alone. Hermione would hex my ears off for it.'' The young man replied with crossed arms.

''You said I could choose, or was that a lie?'' The boy sneered, trying to make the best impression of his adult glare.

Potter sighed tiredly, ''You do understand that you'll have to stay with Kreacher? I did not realize how much tension there would be between the two of you when I said this.''

''So what? Make the house elf go away for one more day.'' Severus argued, and surely didn't whine.

The emerald eyes turned serious. ''No, that's not fair on Kreacher. And I am not leaving you alone at the manor. So you have two choices: You'll come with me under the glamour or you'll stay here with Kreacher.''

''I could go to Hogwarts. I'll help Poppy with potions.'' The seven year old tried one last time.

Potter seemed a bit frustrated by this point. ''Do you or do you not want other people to discover that you are a child? Only Hermione, Minerva, Madame Pomphrey and the Minister know of your situation. If a kid goes running around Hogwarts suddenly, people are going to figure out what happened.''

''But-''

''No. Choose or give me one good reason why you can't come with me tomorrow.'' Potter said firmly.

Because I do not have enough money to spend on a whim! Severus glared at the young man in front of him. He finally looked down, contemplating the situation, before looking back up, determined.

''I'll stay with the house elf.''

Potter's eyebrows rose in surprise and confusion at the response. ''Severus-''

''No! You said I can choose. This is my choice. I don't have to explain myself to you, Potter.'' The child cut in coldly.

The emerald eyes held mixed emotion, while the boy clenched his fists and stared stubbornly at the young man. The gaze was unnerving.

The Boy-Who-Lived-Twice sighed; he seemed to do that a lot in the past few days. He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes tiredly before fixing the child in front with an exasperated look. Severus raised his chin high up, ready for another round.

''I am not going to make you go or fight with you on this issue anymore.'' Potter announced with a flat voice before he continued sounding slightly more concerned, ''You don't have to explain yourself to me, however, you are going to be in this house for over a month and I don't expect you to be buried all the time in books or in the potions lab. You're seven, Severus Snape, and whether you like it or not, a seven year old has the right to explore, play, and talk with other human beings.''

''That's debatable.'' Severus snapped back.

''Says who?'' Potter challenged, his eyes flashing. ''Your drunk father I saw in your memories?''

The raven haired boy took a step back in surprise. He had not realized… he should have known… he didn't think… the bloody tears…

One constant thought passed in his mind: Potter knows. Potter knows. Potter knows.

Without further ado, Severus turned on his heel and ran away from the room. He headed straight for the room he traitorously started to refer to as his own in his mind. Behind him, he heard a sequence of steps. Potter was obviously following him, and that only gave the child more initiative to speed up. As soon as he reached the door he stepped in and shut it behind himself. He used his own weight- which honestly wasn't much- to keep the door in place.

''Severus-'' a voice came from the other side of the door.

''Go away!'' the seven year old yelled, while angry tears fell down his face.

''Look, I'm sorry-''

''I don't care! Just leave me alone!''

''Let me in.'' Potter's voice sounded calmer now, and Severus held in a sob.

''No.'' he managed to say evenly.

There was a silent pause between the two, and Severus almost thought that the Boy-Who-Lived-Twice left, but he wasn't that lucky.

''Why not?''

The seven year old needed some time to calm down before he even attempted to answer the question. He found himself unable to do it though. How could he even start to voice something so complicated? He had never been good with emotions, and his were now eating him up.

He thought Potter must have left, but it seemed that the young man was simply waiting for him to calm down a bit. Potter voice was quiet, but the seven year old heard every single word, ''You have seen some of my memories during our Occlumency lessons; my own childhood was far from happy. I am trying and, as we see, failing, to give you a better experience. Look; I guess I'm trying to do things I would have wanted if the situation were reversed.''

Severus listened- slightly shocked- to the confession. Could Perfect-Potter know what it was like? When someone who is supposed to love you, care and protect you, hurt you instead? And hurt the mother you loved? No. No matter how harsh this sounded, Potter didn't know and didn't remember what it was like to have a family.

The Boy-Who-Lived fought the Dark Lord, Death Eaters, corrupted ministers, and other dark wizards, but he had no idea what it was like to fight someone you love, but try your hardest to hate. From what he had seen, Potter was an orphan in every sense of the word. His family had never let him consider them truly family, but simply unwilling blood-relations.

Slowly, almost unconsciously, the child removed himself from the door and opened it carefully. Potter was leaning on the other side of the hallway, and his emerald gaze rested on his little charge.

Severus swallowed again and crossed his arms. He tried to school his emotions, but his traitorous young body prevented him to be fully in control. He didn't meet the heavy gaze as he voiced quietly, ''I don't have spare money to shop.''

He wasn't sure why he said it. Maybe it was a test of sorts to see how Potter reacted? The seven year old realized with a grimace that Potter's little speech increased his almost inexistent sympathy toward the 'chosen one'. His traitorous young mind wanted to trust someone, to feel safe, and to simply have one person he knew would stand by his side. His mother, then Lily and then Dumbledore had been those people before. But now he had no one, and it was all thanks to himself.

The emerald eyed wizard snorted at the revelation, but it wasn't a happy laugh. He bent down to the little Potions Master's eye level before saying, ''Well, since I am technically your guardian for now, I think it's my responsibility to provide for your wellbeing, including any material things that you need or should get.''

''According to who?'' Severus mimicked from the earlier part of the conversation.

''According to what I observed at the Weasley's and what other students told me about family life.'' Potter replied honestly.

The seven year old grimaced, ''Don't ever allude to us as family.''

''I know, it's weird.'' Potter smiled at him slightly, ''But to be honest, I thought it would be a bit more awkward. You probably won't realize until you are re-aged how childlike you act. But that's good, it's a bit of a bonding experience, I guess.''

Severus wasn't sure how to take that, ''You guess a lot, Potter. Are you sure you know anything?''

''Positive, sir.'' The eighteen year old smirk at him good-naturally.

Severus bit back a yawn. He glanced at Potter's watch on his wrist, and saw that it was already eleven in the evening. As an adult, it wouldn't be a problem, but his young body craved for the comfortable bed behind him. He glanced at Potter uncertainly.

''If you will wish to change your mind about the trip, you are still welcome to come with me.'' The raven haired man assured him.

The seven year old nodded, but pride not to change his decisions so quickly held him back. ''May I go to sleep now? I'll tell you in the morning, alright?''

''No problem. Goodnight then.''

Severus closed the door behind himself, and took one of the fastest baths in his life. Feeling drained, the boy crumpled into sleep as soon as he got on the bed.

It wasn't a good kind of sleep though, as barely an hour later he woke up being covered in sweat. His nightmare left him a shaking mess for which he cursed at himself. He dreamed of Tobias Snape. The man was alive and as drunk as ever. Potter stood to the side unmoving, while Severus did his best at trying to run for cover from his enraged father. He looked back where Potter had been a moment ago, wishing to ask for help, but instead of the familiar eighteen year old, there was now empty space. Terrified, the seven year old heard his father's frustrated yell before waking up.

Now the child tried to calm down, but the feeling of abandonment didn't leave. His thoughts traveled to the past few days and all the tantrums he threw. He miserably wondered if at some point Potter would decide he wasn't worth the trouble and decide to send him away. Funny how five days ago he wished to never be in this place, and currently he felt like a waterfall of tears could come out of his stupid eyes at the possibility of being asked to leave.

Feeling thirsty, Severus opened the door to the corridor and walked through the dark house barefoot. He was cold, scared, and miserable. The manor was silent, and with dread Severus realized that Potter was probably already asleep. He wouldn't make a nuisance out of himself though by waking him up.

Severus shakenly went to the kitchen to get some juice. But as soon as he was done with the glass, a horrible familiar voice echoed behind him.

''Well, well. Stealing a midnight snack are you?'' The elf sneered behind him.

The boy turned around, knocking off the juice which spill on the floor. ''What are you doing here?''

''Kreacher was sent away until Monday and Monday it is. Kreacher wants to make sure the manor was still standing.'' The elf replied grumpily, already starting to clean the mess made on the floor.

Severus watched the creature with distrustful eyes, ''And?''

The elf gave the boy a too innocent expression. ''Kreacher is an old elf and does not wish for trouble for himself. Kreacher decided that a young boy as you is capable enough to be trouble without Kreacher's help. So Kreacher will wait and see.''

The child narrowed his eyes at the house elf. ''Interesting. I don't believe a word you say, but still, it's rather Slytherin of you.''

''Will Severus Snape go back to bed or should Kreacher wake up Master Potter?'' The elf sneered back.

''Thank you for your concern.'' Severus spat back.

''Oh, Kreacher has none for you.'' The elf replied easily. ''Sweet dreams, Severus Snape.'' There was amusement in the old silky voice.

That made the little Potions Master turn back to face the elf. ''What do you know of my dreams?''

''That you scream a lot, for starters. Kreacher will have to inform Master Potter of this in the morning.''

''No, don't.'' Severus replied immediately.

The elf glared at him. ''Kreacher does not take orders from you.''

''Then let it not be an order. How about I tell Potter that you changed and don't bother me anymore? Your master would be happy with you once again and in exchange you won't tell Potter about my nightmares.''

The elf smirked at him. ''Kreacher am not sure…''

''Then what do you want?'' Severus demanded angrily.

''That no matter if Kreacher will or will not be… nice to you… that you will tell Master nothing bad on Kreacher.'' The elf silky voice taunted.

He should have expected this; he really should. Was keeping the nightmares a secret such a big deal? It would be embarrassing as hell if the elf started to account how he wept in his sleep, but…

''That's not good enough for me.'' The seven year old announced, feeling slightly more confident as he assumed Potter would not be pleased if he learned that his elf is as prejudice as he was before.

The house elf made an ugly face at him, ''What is the problem?''

''If I am not going to tell Potter about you, then you can't tell him anything bad about me.'' The seven year old tried to summon his most intimidating face.

After all, two could play that game.

The elf look thoughtful, and his black gaze penetrated that of the boy's.

''Kreacher agrees.'' The silky voice announced.

Severus gave a curt nod, before silently exiting the kitchen.

The next day Severus grumpily waited for Potter to put all the necessary charms on both of them. He was a bit fed up by the end of all those preparations, especially as Kreacher kept sending him calculating looks. Regardless, Snape vowed to himself to go through the trip as swiftly as possible, and from this evening he would be able to finally spend some time in the lab.

It was embarrassing when Potter asked him to hold his hand, as they were passing as brothers. They were supposed to be two lowly known half-bloods who had left Great Britain when the news of the Dark Lord arrived.

Pathetic.

Severus Johnson. It simply sounded ridiculous.

OOO

This chapter was betaed by chronos-girl