Hey everyone I am soooo sorry for the long wait for this chapter. I know that it has been forever since I posted a new chapter for this but I didn't have the motivation to continue this seeing as my computer had deleted the original and I had to start the chapter over. Please Read and review! I promise that I will try and keep adding chapters!

Thanks again :)

Chapter 4

Harry's ear stung continuously as he continued with scrubbing another bowl. He supposed he deserved what he got, he shouldn't have sworn in front of Severus. Next time he will be smarter and wait until the Potion's Master is far out of ear shot. Smirking at his own clever thinking he placed another clean dish in the drying rack.

"No…good…ruddy…" he heard Ron grumble.

He knew that Ron didn't have many domestic skills but watching him do dishes confirmed that notion to the thousandth degree. Harry wanted to help his friend…but he was enjoying Ron's torment too much.

"This…is going to take all day…"

Harry sighed and shook his head slightly. His hands were starting to wrinkle from the warm soap water but he had to admit that this punishment wasn't all that bad. He used to have to dishes all the time while living at the Dursley's. Reflecting on his life with the Dursley's he couldn't help but wonder what it would be like living with Severus. What type of chores would the potions master give him? Probably nothing too severe… dishes he could handle…garden work he could handle…he just hoped he wouldn't have to cook and clean every minute of every day like he did when he lived with his Aunt and Uncle.

"I can't believe…that no good greasy…"

Harry's eyes narrowed and he turned to glare at Ron forcefully. His, freckled, friend stopped drying and turned to face him as well. For a brief five minutes they stared each other down…waiting to see who broke first.

"Can I help you, Potter." Ron snarled.

"Yeah," Harry growled. "Don't insult Professor Snape like that."

"Or what?" Ron snapped.

Harry gripped the plate he was washing to the point that he was sure it would shatter in his hands.

"You don't want to find out."

Clearly that was enough to get Ron to drop the subject and at first Harry didn't understand that. Usually Ron would argue until he was blue in the face, but when Severus appeared from behind his answer became obvious.

"Mr. Potter," Severus said smoothly. "You have one more dish and than you are free to join me in the sitting room…we have to talk."

Oh great, that wasn't one of those things you heard from Severus Snape and looked forward to. He could not picture this conversation going well at all. He knew that Severus wouldn't strike him or beat him like Uncle Vernon, but that still did not motivate him to finish the dishes.

"Yeah," Ron chuckled sarcastically. "And you want to live with that man."

"Shut up, Ron!" Harry snarled.

"Don't tell me to shut up Potter," Ron snapped. "You know I'm right; that's why you won't finish that bowl."

Harry rolled his eyes and with a very swift motion rinsed the suds from the porcelain mug. Smirking he shoved it into Ron's hands and stormed into the living room. He looked to see Severus sitting on a moth eaten chair examining several pictures Sirius's mother still had on the walls.

"I almost feel sorry for the mutt," Severus sighed. "Living here must be torture…this house is disgusting."

Yep that was definitely the Snape Harry knew.

"You wanted to talk to me, sir?"

"Yes, I did." Severus said turning to face him. "Please sit."

Harry did so promptly and immediately felt his gaze drop to the dust ridden floor. Despite his love for his Godfather he had to agree with Severus…Grimmauld Place was filthy.

"You are not in trouble Harry." Severus said warmly. "There is no need to look so guilty…unless you have something you need to tell me?"

Harry shook his head and smiled.

"Good…now I would like to address your behavior at the dinner table-

-I thought you said I wasn't in trouble?" Harry panicked.

"You are not…but you will be if you interrupt me again." Severus warned. "I was going to say that although your actions can be justified I never want to hear that type of language out of your mouth again…is that understood?"

Harry nodded vigorously.

"I do not like swearing," Severus said, sternly. "It is utterly rude and vulgar."

"Yes sir…I'm sorry sir."

"Also, and after this we will no longer discuss it," Severus's eyes became slightly darker. "In the five years you have known me how many times did I accept backtalk?"

Harry made no answer.

"Exactly." Severus said acknowledging his lack of answer.

"I'm sorry sir." Harry apologized.

"It is fine Harry," Severus said nodding. "I know that in the heat of the moment people tend to say things they don't necessarily mean."

That was just it; Harry did mean what he had said to Ron. He had genuinely been angry with him and he still was! He was furious with his so called friend. Every time things seemed to look up for him Ron had to pick it apart in a fit of petty jealousy.

"Harry," Severus said, interrupting his mental war. "You will always fight with your friends…but in a week or two you both will forgive and forget."

Harry wanted to roll his eyes but he knew that Severus would probably scold him for it; so he refrained and decided to wait until he was away to do so.

"Is that all you wanted to talk to me about?"

"No," the dark haired, potions master said with a shake of his head. "I keep getting sidetracked…Merlin I'm starting to sound like Albus."

Harry chuckled and replied with, "it's a sign of your old age sir."

Severus's head whipped up towards him and he sneered, playfully, in Harry's direction.

"You will pay for that later brat." He said standing.

"Wait, aren't you going to tell me what you called me out here for?"

"Not now," Severus smirked. "Let it torture your non-existent mind for a couple more hours."

"Wait…wait!" Harry called, chasing after him. "Professor that isn't fair!"

"Life isn't fair brat!" Snape spat.

"C'mon…" Harry whined. "Is it bad?!"

"Depends on how you look at it." Severus replied continued down a narrow hallway.

"How would I look at it?"

"I'm not you Potter," his teacher chuckled. "How could I answer that?"

"Just tell me, please!?"

"After you insulted my age?" Severus cackled. "Not a chance brat!"

Harry reached out and grabbed Severus by the wrist.

"Technically," he said causing him to stop. "I didn't insult your age-

-you called me old!"

"Yes, but with age comes wisdom!" Harry atoned.

"Nice try, Potter."

"Please tell me!"

"No."

"You were going to tell me anyway!" Harry wailed.

"Yes," Severus agreed. "This just makes the experience far more enjoyable."

"Evil." Harry muttered. "Evil Slytherin-

-Watch yourself." Severus warned.

Harry released his teacher's arm and crossed both of his over his chest. He should have known that Severus would try and tease him with this! It was just all too Snape!

"When you pout like that Potter, I forget you are fifteen." Harry dropped his arms. "You look five."

Furrowing his eyebrows together Harry turned his back on Severus and stormed out of the hall back to the living room. That was what he was going to have to live with…for the rest of the Summer Holiday and possibly his last two years of school he would be living with that man! He couldn't wait!

"Hey Harry."

"Oh," Harry said with a jump. "Hey Mione."

"I'm really happy for you!" she said rushing into his arms.

"Ugh…" Harry said almost falling back. "Thanks…Mione are you alright?"

"Yes," She said squeezing him. "I am just so happy that you won't be going back to those awful people!"

Harry smiled and hugged Hermione back. He knew that his friend worried about him endlessly and that was why he loved Mione so much…not in the girlfriend way…more or less in the way a brother loved his sister.

"You have no excuse not to write me anymore Harry!" she said pulling back. "So I better get some letters from you, Mr. Potter."

With a chuckle Harry nodded.

"And if you don't write me I'll have to tell Professor Snape."

Harry rolled his eyes.

"That's a low blow Mione."

"It was totally deserved."

Harry laughed and smiled.

"Have you talked to Sirius at all?" Hermione asked.

And as if the world had just fallen apart by the seams Harry's mood changed drastically. He couldn't go and talk to Sirius…it was just too painful. The pain he saw in his Godfather's eyes was just too much to bear.

"No…no I haven't."

Harry watched as Hermione sighed sadly.

"You really should," she said warmly. "He adores you Harry…and you're really all he has left of his best friend."

"I know that Mione." Harry whispered. "I know."

Again sorry for the long wait for the fourth chapter, but because it is here I would really appreciate your reviews!

Thank you :)