I do not own it.

Chapter 6

Harry woke up as sun begun to shine on his face. It was still early, and he wanted to turn around and simply go back to sleep. But as he turned, he saw something that changed his mind. Crouches were lying on the floor next to his bed! That meant he could finally get up today!

It was extremely annoying to be in bed the last two weeks, with nothing to do except for homework, which he completed in the first week. Then he started reading some books Professor Snape recommended, mostly on defence, but some of them, surprisingly, potions. He got along better with his professor now. The man sometimes came into his room to keep him company. He would most definitely go mad without someone to talk to. First, they talked about his homework and Hogwarts. Then, they talked about the books he was reading. Snape would explain to him the theory behind some curses, or explained why it is important for some potions ingredients to be chopped, not sliced. He really was quite a good teacher when he actually wanted to teach, not just yell at his students. They still didn't breach the topic of Harry's abuse, but that was he topic no one has been comfortable discussing yet.

Sometimes Professor Dumbledore came to visit him. They didn't talk about anything important mostly. It was still nice of him to keep him company. The long hours of not being able to get out of bed were also spent writing letters. Hedwig was completely healed, and she most definitely appreciated having something to do. She was regularly seen caring letters between the Burrow, Hermione's house and Harry. Sometimes he even wrote a letter to Remus. He wasn't allowed to mention to his friends where he was staying, or what was happening to him, so they still thought he was staying with his family. Harry felt a little bad about that, but he sensed his friends weren't really opened about what was happening with them either. They were keeping something from him, and they weren't very good at disguising it, so he noticed it right away. He still didn't know exactly what it was, but he had his suspicions.

Just in that moment, Hedwig flew in with a letter tied to her leg. "Hey girl. How are you," asked Harry as she landed next to him. As a reply, she nibbled on his fingers, and then showed him her leg. He untied the letter and opened it.

Hey mate!

Hope those muggles are treating you well?

My mum wanted me to ask you, if you would like to come to the Burrow for the last two or at least, last week of holidays? She didn't clear it with Dumbledore yet, but it should be OK, last year he didn't do any problems. So let us know when we can pick you up.

Oh, and if you need us, we can break you out just like that time in the 3rd year. I am sure the twins will be happy to help!

See ya!

Ron

Harry sighted. He didn't look forward to replying to this letter. Hopefully, professor Dumbledore already made up some story, probably containing Voldemort, why he can't come to the Burrow this year. It was strange. This was the first year he was happy to stay where he was and not go to the Burrow. Well, it was the first time he wasn't staying with the Dursleys at this time either, so that should be normal, right? Well, it would be normal, if he wasn't staying with the most feared professor at Hogwarts, that he was supposed to hate. Ron would go nuts if he found out, and Hermione… he didn't know what Hermione would think, but she would probably run to the library to look up some hexes which could alter his personality.

However, he didn't really care about that. Even though he was 'chained' to the bed the last two weeks, it was still great. He learned plenty of defence and potions, and he could almost say that he and Professor Snape are almost friends. Well, they certainly didn't hate each other any more.

Deciding he will deal with the letter later, he carefully moved his legs so he was sitting on the edge of the bed. He picked up the crutches and carefully stood up, leaving the weight off his left leg. He awkwardly took a couple of steeps to the door and stepped into the bathroom. He washed his face and teeth, and dressed himself, deciding he will take a shower a bit later. He was too excited to be standing still right now. Finished, he went back to his room, and this time he chose the second door. He found himself in the hall. He looked around, as if for clue to where to go, but he didn't find any.

"Kizzy," he called.

"Oh, Mister Harry is out of bed! Kizzy is glad for Mister Harry!" squeaked the little elf.

"Thank you Kizzy. Could you please show me the way to the dining room? I guess that is where Professor Snape usually has breakfast, right?"

"Yes Mister Harry. Kizzy will show you the way," said the elf, and slowly started walking down the hall, constantly looking back to see if Harry was still following her.

With every step Harry took, he became more comfortable moving with crutches. It was hard at first, but he was getting better. That was, until they stood in front of the stairs. "Do we have to go this way Kizzy?" he said, already knowing the answer.

"Yes Mister Harry. There is no other way to go downstairs," replied the elf.

Groaning, Harry started moving again. Step by step he carefully moved downwards. He was relieved when he managed to get down safely. Kizzy was almost bouncing with excitement next to him. Harry rolled his eyes, and started moving again.

Soon, they arrived to the entrance of the dining room. The room was huge! There was a long table in the middle, made from dark wood. There were some cupboards along one wall, made from the same wood. The windows had light curtains, which made a nice contrast with the dark furniture. The room was very tastefully decorated.

"Good morning," he said to the Professor, who was already sitting at the table, apparently just finished his meal, and reading a newspaper.

He looked up, and replied, "Good morning, Mr. Potter. You managed to find the dining room, I gather?"

"Kizzy actually showed me the way," blushed Harry.

"At least you had the brains to call her. I am surprised," said Severus, with a false wonder on his face.

Harry smiled and took his seat, putting the crutches down, within easy reach. "It's great to be finally able to leave the room. I mean, do not get me wrong, I love my room, it's just kind of boring to be in there all the time. Can I help you in your lab today, or something?"

"Yes you may. But be warned! At the fist sign of disobedience, and you will be thrown out of my lab and forbidden to step foot in for the next ten years!"

"Yes sir. I promise."

"Very well then. Finish your breakfast and come to the basement," and with that, he stood up, and left the room, his black robes billowing behind him as he moved.

Harry still didn't find out how Snape managed that, but he promised himself he would.

He slowly ate his breakfast. He didn't have problems with solid food any more, so he ate some scrambled eggs and toast. Two weeks of healthy food and he was gaining his weight back steadily. Dudely's clothes were still hanged from him, but that was to be expected. He would never be as big as his cousin.

When he finished, he carefully stood up again and moved towards the potion's lab. After some problems with the stairs again, he arrived to his destination. When he saw that the door was closed, he gently knocked and a deep voice told him to enter.

The lab was absolutely huge! He thought that the lab at Hogwarts was big, but this one was twice its size. There were cupboards with potions ingredients on one side, and already made potions in a cabinet on the other side. Two other walls had long counters for preparing ingredients or for books and notes that you needed while making potions.

In the middle of the room there was a large space meant as a working place. Several cauldrons could be set up at one time, so the Potions Master could work on several potions at once, without the lab being crowded at all.

"Well, do you have plans to move today or are you planning on standing there like a statue?" a voice interrupted his observations.

Looking ashamed he moved forwards, and noticed a stool next to one of the counters, for him to sit on. He saw that there were some weird looking ingredients on the counter, waiting for him to chop or whatever was needed. Not wanting to be thrown out of the lab, he started working on the newts and beetles. Glad to finally have something to do, time seemed to pas by quickly, and he didn't even notice it was lunch time, until a voice interrupted the comfortable working silence.

"Come one, it's lunch time. We can't have you missing meals again."

Harry looked up from his work, surprised. Was that concern he heard in the Professor's voice? No, it can't be.

Severus opened the door and waited for Harry to come through, before closing them. He moved slowly so the student could catch up easily, and even helped him up the stairs.

"Thank you for your help today. We managed to do more potions in this one morning than I could do in two days. It will give me some time off. I appreciate it," thanked the professor to the surprised looking student.

"No problem. It was fun." Disbelief shown in Snape's eyes, he elaborated. "No! Really! I mean it. I could never believe that potions could be fun, but it was. I liked helping you. And I think it help that I actually understand some things better now, after reading all those books."

"Nonetheless, I think you had quite enough excitement for today. It would be better to slowly getting used to using and moving your leg. You will need to start doing some exercises for strength. I believe your leg will be otherwise too weak to hold your weight and it would take longer for you to heal completely."

"Yes sir." Harry didn't want to complain, because he wanted to be back on his feet as soon as possible. And it was understandable to be listening to the advice of the older man. "And I still have a few books I want to read before school starts again. I better start reading them, or I will never be able to finish them on time."

"You could borrow them, if you wish, and read them at Hogwarts. I do not mind."

Harry's face lit up. "Thank you! I still better go now. See you at supper?"

"Yes, at 7 pm sharp. Go now, insufferable brat," said Snape, with almost affection in his voice.

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