Chapter Four: Return to Private Drive

It had all happened so fast for Harry; one moment, he had been enjoying his time at Grimmauld Place, and the next thing he knew he was back at Alnwick Manor with his dour potions Professor. He felt like a nuisance that no one wanted and that no one knew what to do with. Harry trudged into the house, feeling more sorry for himself than he had ever before. He stood in the entrance hall, waiting for Snape to tell him what to do.

"Listen to me well Potter, for I shall not be repeating this twice. Whilst you are here at Alnwick Manor, there will be strict rules that you must adhere to. I have drawn up a study schedule for you and you will follow it. I will not be accepting the usual drivel you hand in as your potions work this year." Snape paused, racking his brain to see if there was anything else that was immediately pressing that he had to speak to the boy about.

"Sir?" Harry interrupted. "All my belongings are still at my aunts house." Ah yes, the boys belongings.

"The day is still young Mr Potter. We shall retrieve them after lunchtime. For now, go to your room and keep quite. I have some work to attend to." Snape left, and Harry wandered up to the spare room slowly, feeling forlorn.

Pushing open the door he was pleasantly surprised to find that the room had been changed drastically since he had last been in it. The colour scheme had been changed from Slytherin colours to Gryffindor and the deep red matched the dark wooden furniture nicely, he thought. The desk was still there, but now there was a pot of ink and upon opening the drawer, lots of parchment too.

Harry grimaced to himself, how much work was Snape expecting him to do? He continued his inspection, noting that there was now a cushy armchair in the corner sat facing the now lit fireplace. The room was toasty and warm and Harry felt a tiny bit better about spending his time in there. A bookshelf had been added to the room too, and Harry added his book to the empty shelves. If he was being forced to spend the summer here, he would make it feel as much like a home as possible. He poked his head into the bathroom and saw that his spare toothbrush had been left there along with some toothpaste.

Glancing at the clock on the wall, Harry saw that he still had an hour and a half until lunchtime. He huffed in annoyance. What was he supposed to do without any of his stuff to entertain him? He didn't want to go and find Snape, and he felt that it was too soon to go exploring around the house. Sighing, he took his book and plopped down on his bed, having no choice but to read.

Snape sat at the dining hall table, his mood darkening as he thought about his impending visit to the Dursley's household. He hadn't seen Petunia since he and Lily were children, well over twenty years ago. He doubted that the years had been kind to her; she had a pinched, lemon like face as a child and he would wager any amount of money that she still did as an adult. And where was Potter? He had specifically told him they would be having lunch, so where was the brat?

Sighing heavily through his nose, Snape climbed up the stairs two at a time and swiftly opened Harry's door.

"Potter." Snape scowled at the still slumbering child, his head resting softly against the aged pages of his book. What time had he gone to bed last night? Clearly his useless Godfather saw no need in giving children a sensible bedtime, but Snape had to admit that he was surprised at Lupin for not enforcing some kind of rules.

Harry started to stir, and jumped when he saw his Professor glaring down at him.

"Sorry for falling asleep sir." He mumbled, although he didn't sound the least bit sorry in the slightest. They walked down the stairs in silence, the dining table now laden with a healthy variety of food. Sitting down, Harry tucked in and avoided looking at his Professor. It was awkward. Neither of them knew what to say, and even if they did they didn't want to speak to each other.

Clearing his throat, Harry decided that he had too many questions he wanted to ask. Snape would have to talk to him whether he liked it or not.

"Sir, I saw that my room looks different?" he ended it in a vague question, not really sure what he was asking.

"You have Professor McGonagall to thank for that. She felt that you needed a touch of home." Snape sneered the last word, clearly not approving of having a Gryffindor themed room in his house.

"Oh." Of course, Harry should have known that Snape would never be that thoughtful.

"Well, do I still get to see my friends and stuff?" Harry demanded. He wasn't going to be bossed around by Snape every day until September, and he certainly wasn't going to let the man bog him down in a never ending stream of work.

"Despite what your mangy Godfather may think, I did not plan to have my summer interrupted by meddlesome students. You will of course be seeing your friends so that I may have a brief respite from you." Of course, nothing Professor Snape had to say could be delivered without insult. The rest of lunch passed uneventfully until the time came to head back to Private Drive. Harry was dreading seeing his Uncle again. He could remember the distinct ache in his nose after he had been hit. He was thankful that Snape had not brought it up yet. Hopefully he never would.

Vernon, Petunia and Dudley were in paradise without Harry Potter around anymore. They had simply said to the neighbours that he had gone abroad on holiday with some of his friends, and then would be heading straight back to boarding school from there. The lie had been believed easily, and all was well. The only downside to not having her nephew around, Petunia thought, was that they had to hire a gardener much earlier than usual to take up his tasks.

"Petunia dear, someone's at the door." Vernon called, his eyes unmoving from the TV. Dudley was the spitting image of his father, backside parked on the sofa, munching on some food absent-mindedly. Petunia paused in her cooking of dinner and hurried over to the door, untying her apron and draping it over the bannister.

"Hello – you!" She hissed, looking scandalised. For a moment Harry thought it was aimed at him, but he realised with mounting confusion that she was staring straight at his Professor.

"Petunia." He sneered, dislike radiating off of his very being. He had been right in assuming the years had not been kind to her. Out of the two sisters, Lily had always been the beauty and the brains. He idly wondered what that had left Petunia with. Perhaps bitterness?

"Who is it?" Vernon called from the lounge.

"Is it customary for you to leave visitors standing outside, or are you going to invite us in?" she glared at the two of them before hurrying them inside. She slammed the door shut and hurried into the living room. Vernon glanced up at his wife's stricken expression and stood up just as Severus entered the room. He posed as intimidating figure, with a dark scowl on his face, his black robes billowing around him. He easily towered over Vernon, who had not missed the wand that was kept close to the man's side.

"Now listen here," Vernon began, his face red, "we did not kick the boy out. He disappeared on his own." he insisted, blocking Dudley from view as if to protect him. "We don't want him back either – can't he stay with one of your lot until school starts again? We've gotten into a very nice routine since he's left and we don't want him back mucking it all up." Snape didn't show it but he was very taken aback by the Dursley's reactions to Harry.

He had of course heard the boy lamenting pathetically to his friends and to Dumbledore on occasion about how 'horrible' the Dursley's were and how they didn't like him, but he had chalked it up to Potter being a celebrity, thinking that his muggle relatives were beneath him. He expected the Aunt and Uncle to have at least been worried about their nephew running off into the night, but in fact they seemed glad. Snape was uncharacteristically confused.

"I can assure you Mr Dursley that Potter will not be returning here for the rest of the summer." his eyes scanned the room and Severus quickly noted that he could not see one picture of Potter, but instead numerous photos of his fat cousin. "Mr Potter, please gather all of your belongings. I will be upstairs momentarily to assist you." Harry hurried upstairs without a second thought. For some reason he didn't want his Professor to see the state of his things, or to see his room.

Snape waited impatiently for either of the adults standing in front of him to ask him any questions about where their nephew would be staying, but he realised with growing disgust that they simply did not care.

"In case you were wondering, Mr Potter will be residing with me until school starts. He is in need of some extra tutoring which I shall be providing." It wasn't a complete lie after all. Petunia sniffed uninterestedly and excused herself to check on her cooking.

Vernon sidled closer to Snape, eyeing the man carefully. "I can tell that you also know the boy is a handful, a right ruddy pain in the arse." he murmured conspiratorially. Snape raised an eyebrow but said nothing in reply. "You have my er, permission to use whatever type of punishment you see fit on the boy. I learnt too late that a firm hand works wonders." Vernon nodded triumphantly, pleased to find that even other Wizard's disliked Harry.

Snape set his jaw tight, his teeth grinding together imperceptibly. His eyes bored into Vernon's, and with the subtlest touch of Legilimency he saw clearly the large brute causing Harry's nose bleed. No matter how vindictive or harsh Snape could be, he was a passionate advocate against child abuse. No child no matter how wretched – including Potter – deserved to be hit. He need only look back into his own childhood to know how damaging it could be.

"I see." Snape said coldly. Vernon, oblivious to the man's anger, nodded sagely to himself and sat down again.

Oh yes, I see indeed. Don't worry Vernon, I won't be leaving here without leaving something behind for you first. Snape thought savagely to himself. He knew a couple of good curses he could cast on the house – he could infest the house with rats, flies, snakes – the possibilities were endless. He would make sure that the next few months for the Dursley's were hell.

The house wasn't big, and he easily found Potter's shabby bedroom.

Well, the boy wasn't lying when he said the room at Alnwick was better than his one here.

A bed lay pushed up against the side of the wall with a broken leg, making it lean on its side. There was a thin sheet and one pillow which must have done nothing to help Potter in the colder months. There were bars on the window, and the walls were completely bare. There was a run-down dresser and an equally sorry looking desk and chair, and that was it. The boy was currently stroking his owl Hedwig, apologising for forgetting about her in the excitement of the last few days.

"So much for packing, Potter." Snape half-heartedly jabbed. He didn't have it in him to be cutting to the boy after seeing his less than happy home life. Snape could admit when he was wrong, and he was clearly wrong about the boy's relatives.

"Sorry sir." Harry mumbled, blushing as he pulled out his trunk from under his bed. Harry gathered all his clothes and dumped them on the bed, Snape all the meanwhile noting that he didn't have many and they were all a couple of sizes too big. Clearly, they had belonging the fat oaf of a cousin who was lounging about downstairs. Snape sneered to himself he pulled out his wand.

"There is a simple shrinking spell you can cast Potter, which will fit all of your things inside of that trunk including your broom and school supplies. The owl however, you will have to carry." Harry watched as his Professor shrunk each of his things before levitating them neatly into folded piles in his trunk. Harry had to admit that he did a better job than what he would have done.

"Is this all you will need?" Snape asked uncertainly. He was sure that teenage boys had a lot more things than this.

"Er yes. Actually no." Harry knelt down and lifted the floorboards to reveal his secret stash of things. There was a small black box which held photos of his parents, the letters and cards he received from his friends and the sweets and cakes he had been sent, vital for those days where Harry was extra hungry. The young man avoided his Professors eyes, knowing that the older man was smart enough to deduce his home situation and the reason why he had to hide food under his floorboards.

Harry was nervous, he feared that Snape would use all of this as ammunition against him. He could imagine him telling Malfoy and all the other Slytherins about how Precious Potter was not so loved after all, and how he had to hide food just so he could eat. His ears burned in shame and he felt angry tears prick his eyes.

I will not cry. He thought forcefully. Swallowing, he faced his Professor bravely and nodded.

"I'm done sir." Snape nodded back in reply and silently stalked down the stairs. They left without a goodbye, with no one noticing the subtle flick of Severus' wand.

Harry had immediately raced up the stairs to his new room to unpack. He couldn't bare to be in the presence of Snape at the moment. Snape meanwhile, had flooed himself immediately to the Headmasters office in indignant fury.

"Severus!" Albus exclaimed, "Care for a lemon drop?"

"They barely count as family Albus!" Snape said passionately. He started to pace up down as he spoke. "They barely fed the boy, they kept him in poor conditions – you should have seen the state of his room and belongings – the Uncle had even raised his hand to the boy! That fat oaf then had the gall to suggest that I too should take such disciplinary actions!" Breathing heavily through his nose, Severus gave Albus an accusing look. "How could leave the boy which such incompetent, careless fools?"

Dumbledore sighed and gestured to the empty chair before him. Severus sat down stonily and crossed his arms, waiting for Dumbledore's excuse.

"I had hoped that Petunia would love her nephew, just as how Lily would have loved hers...I had reports of course that the family were not particularly overjoyed to have custody of Harry, but I did not think that they would mistreat him. And for the most part Severus, they have not. Yes, they may have neglected him, perhaps underfed him, but he was never truly badly treated. I assume you used Legilimency on his Uncle to discern what had happened when he 'raised his hand' to Harry?"

Snape nodded stiffly.

Dumbledore sighed sadly. "Before that incident Severus, I can assure you that there had been no physical abuse towards Harry. However," Dumbledore continued carefully, "now that it has been brought to my attention, it only strengthens my reasons for having Harry stay at Alnwick Manor this summer. The issue will have to be revisited of course for when the boy returns to them next year -"

"Returns? Albus are you mad? We need a healthy, somewhat mentally-stable Potter if he is to defeat the Dark Lord! Sending him back to those pathetic -" Dumbledore raised a hand calmly.

"The blood wards, Severus, are what keep Mr Potter safe. As much as I do not want to send him back, there is no choice. He needs that protection at least until he turns seventeen. We simply cannot take the risk." Albus' sombre words did nothing to lift the cloud of incredulous anger that had descended on Snape.

"On a lighter note, I am thoroughly overjoyed to see you taking such an interest in Harry's well-being!" before Dumbledore could say another word, Snape had flooed back to his house.

Harry stomped around the Manor, looking for Snape. Where had the man disappeared to? He barged into the study just as the man in question stepped out of the fireplace.

"Where have you been?" Harry demanded, already guessing the answer.

"Mind your tone of voice Potter. I was speaking with the Headmaster."

"Did Dumbledore mention speaking to me at all?"

"Professor Dumbledore is extremely busy, but he will endeavour to see you soon." Snape could tell that the boy was in a bad mood, and he had no desire to talk to him right now.

"I bet you had a right laugh didn't you?" Harry accused hotly, his control over his emotions slipping. "Bet you loved the fact that my relatives don't treat me like the 'celebrity' you always say I am. I bet you can't wait to have a little gossip with Malfoy and have all of Slytherin making fun of me. Well you're a slimy git and I hate you and I don't care what you or anyone else thinks!" Harry had started off speaking at a normal volume, but towards the end of his rant he had started shouting.

Snape's first impulse was to curb the boys blatant lack of respect, to punish him for daring to speak him like that. However Snape also knew that Potter was only fifteen, and emotions can run high at that age. He decided to give the young man a rare break, as he had been through a trying couple of days and even Snape wasn't that heartless.

"Mind how you speak to me Potter, or you're going to have an unpleasant evening here. And in answer to your other absurd accusations: Draco Malfoy and I do not 'gossip', as you so eloquently put it. I am his teacher and he is a student, nothing more and nothing less. And no matter my disposition, no child deserves to be mistreated." He stared Harry straight in the eyes as he said this unflinchingly. "You may be pleased to hear that I left something behind for the Dursley's, to help them...reflect on their past actions."

"What did you do?" Harry asked, half curious and half fearful.

Snape smirked at the young man. "A simple curse that at first I was going to cast on their house, however I then decided that perhaps it would be more...proper if instead I cursed them. They will now suffer misfortune after small misfortune for the next year. I doubt that they are smart enough to connect it to magic." Snape said smoothly.

Harry felt a mire of conflicting emotions; on the one hand, he felt a vicious pleasure at the Dursley's experiencing bad luck for a full year. On the other hand, what had been Snape's motivations for doing that? It was the complete opposite of what he expected the Potions Master to do. Perhaps he didn't know the man as well as he thought he did?

"I guess my Uncle won't be getting that promotion then." Harry said cheekily, grinning from ear to ear. Snape snorted quietly.

"Quite right Mr Potter. I don't suppose he will." They looked at each other with a little less animosity than usual, which left Harry feeling weird. "You have no doubt unpacked in a haphazard fashion. You shall maintain a clean and orderly room whilst you are under my roof. I expect your room to be in a presentable fashion within the hour. I shall come check after I have finished some work I need to do. We will then discuss your schedule for the next few weeks."

"Yes sir." Harry groaned, the brief moment they shared forgotten. Harry shot a glare at his Professor's retreating back. He could have almost pouted; sure, he hadn't exactly left the room neat, but what did Snape care? It's not as if the man would be spending any time in there!

Severus was feeling slightly more optimistic at the prospect of having Harry Potter stay in his house; yes, if the boy would remain quite, follow his schedule and leave him alone, they could get on without incident this summer and then everything could go back to normal come September.

Smirking triumphantly to himself, he couldn't wait to see the looks on his colleagues face when September came round. Yes, he would say, watching Potter was easy. All the boy needs is discipline and structure, which leaves no room for him to get into trouble. They all thought that Severus wouldn't be able to do it. Well, he would prove them all wrong. It never ended well for people who underestimated the Master of Potions.