Disclaimer: I STILL own nothing
Author's notes: Yeah, so I'm supposed to be writing a paper on Chekov for my Russian Lit class….. but instead I decided to write another chapter. Hope you like it (It is a little sappy, but I promise soon the story will have more adventure in it). Thanks again to everyone who reviewed, you guys are the best!
Chapter 6
"Just Give Me A Chance"
Harry Potter felt the heat of the morning sun as it shone on his skin. He sleepily opened his eyes and yawned. "I must have slept in or something," Harry thought," I haven't felt this rested since…well, for awhile." He stretched out on the bed, happy and content.
Unfortunately, his peacefulness was interrupted when the wave of memories from the previous night assaulted him. "Oh my God," thought Harry in dismay, "Snape know about the nightmares. What was I thinking last night?!?! I can't believe I broke down like that."
His eyes quickly scanned the room and fell upon his professor. He was staring out the window, standing very still. He had not yet noticed the now awake Harry. Harry stared intently at him as he stood in the sunlight. "I suppose he doesn't look that evil or bad or anything," Harry thought, "In this light his hair doesn't look that greasy or anything. His skin looks pale, but not ghastly pale like in the dungeons. He can't really be all that bad. I mean, he didn't laugh at me or anything AND he tried to comfort me… Oh Harry you are so stupid! Of course he was trying to help you. He said his job was to take care of you while living with him. It's his job to watch over you. This doesn't change anything between us; he could still hate me for all I know. I mean, I'm grateful he was nice and all but I shouldn't get too attached. He will just end up leaving me alone when school starts. Everyone just ends up leaving me alone."
Snape slowly turned around, "Oh, I see you are awake now. Get dressed and come down for breakfast, we will talk then."
Harry slowly nodded and Snape left the room. "What did he mean by 'talk'," thought Harry, "I mean, what is there to talk about?" Harry quickly got dressed and headed towards the dining room. Once there he filled his plate, a little more then the previous day, and slowly ate, dreading the conversation Snape was about to have with him.
"Potter…. I mean Harry," Snape said, struggling to find the correct words, "You will have to forgive me, I am not used to taking care of teenagers. Teaching them is one thing, but anything other then that and I am a bit lost. I have been thinking though. I think it would be best for you if you tell me about these dreams you have been having. I know you don't want to but Dumbledor always says that talking helps."
"I don't want to talk about them," Harry mumbled, "Can't you just give me a dream-less sleep potion. I mean, they are easy to make and all. I'll even pay for the ingredients."
"As much as I love potions Harry, I refuse to make one that will help you avoid your problems. You should not have to spend the rest of your days addicted to a potion, reliant upon it."
"Listen, I know you are trying to help and all but I just don't want to have to think about it. I have to think about it every night, I don't want to have to think about it during the day.'
Snape frowned, "This is going to be more difficult then I thought. Harry, I do want to help you. You do understand that, right?"
Harry looked coldly at Snape, "Yes, because I'm under your care. You wouldn't want me to go back to school with problems. Everyone will think you did a bad job taking care of me."
Snape let out a deep sigh, "Harry, I am human you know. I don't want to see you suffer. I may not be your godfather or even a friend but I do want to try and help you."
Harry looked in Snape's eyes, trying to figure out if Snape really meant what he said, if he really wanted to help Harry. "He did stay with you last night," Harry thought, "He wouldn't make the dreamless sleep potion. I mean, that would have been the easy way out for him… maybe he does care. Only one question remains then…."
"Why?" Harry asked Snape.
"What do you mean, why?"
Tears started to fill Harry's eyes and he bowed his head and whispered, "I just don't understand. I have spent the whole summer like this, in all this pain. Why are you the first person to ask? Why are you, a person I considered my enemy, caring while everyone else looks away. My own godfather wouldn't come when I needed him. I just don't understand how everyone I considered my friends aren't here when I need them. I don't understand anything any more."
Snape stared at Harry dumbstruck. "How can I reassure him that he is cared," Snape thought, "He is the boy-who-lived, everyone loves him! I am the wrong person to deal with this. He needs his godfather. But, that's impossible right now. I guess I'll have to just try to calm him down and pray that Dumbledor will allow visitors soon."
Snape stood up and slowly walked over to Harry, who still hung his head low as silent tears made the way down his cheek. Snape put one arm around the boy, as he had down the night before. He was quite taken aback though when Harry jumped from the chair and hugged Snape, sobbing into his robes. Snape froze for a moment, unsure of what to do. Finally, he simply rubbed the boys back, whispering, "It will be alright. Just cry it out."
And Harry did. All the pain, the anger, the frustration that had been building up all summer was released in his sobs. He didn't know why he was hugging Snape, but he didn't want to think about that right now. He needed Snape at that moment, although he did not know why.
Snape continued to hold Harry and let him cry until his eyes could shed no more tears. Snape then lifted Harry's chin so that his eyes were looking straight into his and said, "Believe what you will Harry but I know your godfather and your friends care very much for you. Circumstances have prevented them from showing that love. If you can only imagine what they are going through right now. They know you are in pain Harry, and I guarantee you that if at all possible they would be here for you right now. Unfortunately, I am the only one here. I know we were not friends in the past but please give me a chance to gain your trust Harry. I was wrong to think you would just pour you innermost secrets onto me when you don't even consider me a friend and I am sorry for that. All I ask of you now is that you give me a chance and I promise I will not put that chance to waste. Harry Potter, I will not betray you. I hope one day you will believe that."
Harry looked at Snape with uncertainty. He couldn't even think straight right now. He had so many emotions coursing through him. But, he couldn't turn Snape away. After all, he was the only one he had right now. "OK Professor, I'll give you that chance."
"Please, it's Severus, Harry. We are not in school yet," Snape said smiling.
"OK then, Severus."
Author's second note: OK, I have to go back to writing my paper for Russian literature. I hoped you liked this chapter. I had a really hard time writing it because, in my opinion, Snape wouldn't be THAT good at comforting children… he doesn't seem the emotional type. I don't think I characterized Snape very well the last chapter so I am trying to make amends. I hoped you liked it!