The next morning, Severus sat by the fireplace in the early AM, intently watching the overtired boy as he slept, his hair fallen over the couch cushion in wild disarray. He wondered if the boy understood the implications of what he divulged while he was half asleep the night before or if he even remembered doing so at all. The boy looked cozy and peaceful as he slept, his body seeming completely at rest, but Severus knew better. Sighing, he glanced over at Frances. Her cage door was still open, but she still would not venture outside. Snape reached inside the cage and pet the bird gently. Frances nudged Snape's finger playfully with her beak and hooted softly in approval. He attempted to make Frances step onto his arm by pressing it up against her belly, so he could bring her outside the cage. She daringly placed one shaky foot on his arm, but then got scared and stepped back. As if now suddenly alarmed at Snape's presence, she squawked loudly until he removed his arm, then she gradually calmed down.

Severus sighed again, glancing away from the bird back to Harry, who stirred in his sleep from the noise Frances was making. Harry's eyes fluttered open a few brief moments later, revealing glassy green orbs riddled with sleep. Severus was a tough man who did not waste his emotions on just anybody, so the fact that Harry's green eyes seemed to tug at his heart every time he saw them, especially in the morning, confused Severus. Even more perplexing, he found himself wondering more and more about the boy's abuse. Clearly, after what Harry told him the night before, there was something more to it that Harry was not telling Severus. How there could possibly be more than what he had seen, Severus did not know.

"Good morning, Potter." Snape said in his characteristic cold tone, although he was feeling anything but. "Sleep well? I know how fond you are of my fireplace."

Harry was still exhausted, so he merely nodded and let out a long yawn. "Mmmhmm." He mumbled lazily. He then realized that Snape had been watching him sleep. "Were you watching me sleep? That's a bit creepy." Harry smiled though, to show he didn't truly mean the words he said.

Snape frowned at the accusation. "I absolutely was not. It so happens that I came in to turn on the fireplace and feed the owl. Believe it or not, I have no desire to look at you any time, be it asleep or awake. I am not as enamored with celebrity as everyone else seems to be."

Harry scowled at him.

"Now get up, Potter, we're switching locations today. Up and Adam." Snape urged.

Harry had gotten used to Snape's snarky comments and didn't dwell over them so much now. They no longer ignited fierce anger inside of him that they once had since he now knew that they didn't come from such a bad place. Snape was not, by any means, the most friendly person nor the easiest to please. But, he was a good person. Harry knew that. Merely two weeks ago, he would have been livid at a comment like that from his professor, but now it just amused him. It made him want to egg Snape on even further just to get his humorous reaction. However, he was much too sleepy to do that this morning. He yawned again and started to close his eyes to catch a snoozer before he got up for real.

Snape shook his head when he saw Harry's eyes beginning to close. "Not today, Potter. We will head to my home before noon. Rise and shine." Snape waited for the boy's eyes to open, much to his dismay when they did not. Finally, he ripped the blanket off of him in one abrupt movement, which made Harry surprisingly giggle with delight.

"Go get dressed, you have plenty of new clothes." Snape said. "I'll prepare us some breakfast. Now get up." Harry still laid there motionless, a small smile ready to dance on his lips. "Potter, I will not repeat myself again. Get up. Now." Snape snarled, bending over in the boy's face. This time, Snape spoke in a tone that told Harry he better obey the man or else.

"Alright, alright." Harry said as he sat up and stretched. "I'm up."

"So nice of you to grace us with your presence. Now move." Snape replied coldly. He seemed to be in a foul mood this morning, thought Harry.

When Harry returned, ready and dressed, they ate a breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, and fruit before heading to Prince Manor. Soon after breakfast, Harry grabbed hold of Snape's hand and they both instantly apparated out of the house.

Prince Manor was protected by several wards and it was not possible to apparate directly there or use the floo to access the house. To access the house, they needed to apparate near the house and walk there. Once they passed through the wards, Harry was able to see the full extent of the house. Gigantic didn't even begin to cover it. The home was extremely large and consisted of a long, winding path leading up to the doorway. Several ornately crafted gargoyles lined the windows and doorway, not to mention the artfully designed shrubbery that rested against the first floor windows.

"This is your house?" Harry asked in shock. "The one you live in?"

Snape sighed at the redundant question from his charge. "No, Potter, I thought since we have so much time on our hands, that I would take you on a little detour through the neighbor's yard. Isn't it lovely?" Snape snapped before pausing. When all he received was an angry look from Harry, he continued. "What do you think?" Snape answered the boy's silent question. "Of course it is. Come with me, I'll show you where you'll be staying."

As they walked up the dirt path, Harry stared up at the magnificent home in awe. "I just didn't picture it being this…huge. I mean, it's really huge."

"Thank you for that assessment, Mr. Potter. So few people bother to notice the hugeness of the house anymore." Snape said in his staple sarcastic tone. "Never mind the detailed design or the meticulously crafted sculptures; I agree that the hugeness is the real achievement in masonry here."

Harry was becoming annoyed at Snape's consistently snarky tones this morning. He didn't understand what it is he had done wrong. Harry stopped in his tracks. "Did I do something wrong? You seem really angry with me today, but I don't know what I did. Just tell me now so we can get this over with."

Severus turned around and observed the rather crushed expression in the boy's green eyes. Sadness and anger seemed to be rivaling in boy's features, but sadness was winning overwhelmingly. Suddenly, the memory of the boy's rescue rushed back into his mind involuntarily. He was seeing a flashback of himself crouching down inside of a cupboard, holding his half-dead student in his hands, his body naked, cold, and bloodied. His only fear in that small moment was that he wouldn't be able to save him-that he wouldn't be able to save Lily's son.

He looked down at the ground and shook his head sadly. Then, he looked back up and was met with the same expression from Harry-anger and sadness coupled with confusion. "No, you didn't do anything wrong. I apologize for giving you that impression."

Harry was surprised at his professor's reaction. Given his foul mood today, Harry was expecting a harsh backlash. "It's alright, sir. I should have woken up earlier."

Snape sighed. "Potter, the house isn't going anywhere. It's been here for over a hundred years. I'm not mad that you were tired this morning." He closed his eyes for a brief moment and spoke gently. "I'm upset about something else entirely. Now please follow me."

They entered the house and immediately Harry was overjoyed that there was a great big hearth in the living room. Harry saw that Snape had already sent their belongings over earlier that day. He didn't know how the man did it since apparating was not possible. He reminded himself to ask him about it later. Snape brought Harry upstairs and showed him to his bedroom. The bed was large and, unlike the one in Snape's quarters, was your typical Slytherin green and black, which was fine with Harry since it was better than anything he had ever received at the Dursleys.

"Thanks, Professor. It looks great. I really appreciate it." Harry said, meaning it. Snape nodded in response and stood idly in the doorway. Harry glanced over and saw that there was a gigantic fireplace by the window. He smiled to himself; thinking that he wished Vernon and Petunia could see him now. He turned around and noticed Snape fiddling with a lock and hinge that was on the top of the door. Harry's insides flipped involuntarily at the image of Snape touching and fondling the lock. Harry's imagination got the best of him and in his eyes; it appeared as though Snape was eyeing the lock longingly. Harry's thin body gave him the signal that he was about to become violently ill and expel his breakfast, but he tried to push it away. He knew that the thought was absurd. Snape would never lock him in the room. Even if he was a git at times, he would never do something like that. Or would he? Harry wondered. He shook his head, trying to vanquish the idea from his mind. He slowly sat down on the bed and ran a shaky hand through his hair. Breathe in, breathe out.

Snape took his eyes off of the lock and watched Harry closely, studying the child's reaction carefully. Harry's face became discolored instantly and his body shook as he watched the older man touch the lock. He took his hand off of the door and with a whisk of his wand, the lock disappeared. Harry heard the spell being cast and immediately looked up. The lock was gone. Harry's body softened and relaxed, no longer having the instinct to cry out or throw up. He stared into Snape's eyes for only a few moments before looking down sheepishly into his lap.

Harry didn't want to bring it up, so he didn't ask. Snape, in turn, didn't offer an explanation and it did not seem as though he was going to do so any time soon. Severus calmly helped Harry unpack his things, then told Harry that if he needed him, he would be in the potions lab. Harry had no idea where the potions lab was just yet, but he just nodded. Harry figured they would discuss the lock through the parchment that evening, which was more than fine with him as long as he didn't have to explain it in person.

SSHP SSHP SSHP SSHP SSHP SSHP SSHP SSHP SSHP SSHP SSHP SSHP

Harry wandered downstairs an hour or so later to check out the rest of the house. He found the kitchen and to his surprise, saw a house elf wearing a pink dress. She was sweeping the floor while singing softly to herself. Harry walked over to her. "Hi there." Harry said.

The elf practically jumped out of her skin at the sudden startle. "Oh my goodness! Daphne was so scared! Usually she doesn't hear any voices other than Master Snape."

Harry smiled. "Hello, Daphne. I'm Harry. Harry Potter." He extended his hand for the elf to shake, but she just squealed with pleasure instead.

Daphne's face lit up in excitement. "Oh, Harry Potter! Of course you are! Master Snape said he was bringing a boy here to stay with him and that the boy's name was Harry Potter. I thought that was most peculiar of Master Snape. See, he never has any visitors here at Prince Manor. It gets awfully lonely here sometimes and Daphne doesn't like to be alone for too long." She shook her head fiercely as she went back to her sweeping. "No, not for too long…no."

She reminded him a lot of Dobby, which made Harry smile. "Well, nice to meet you, Daphne. For the record, I don't think anybody likes to be alone for too long. I can imagine you get lonely here. Snape is always at school, isn't he?"

Daphne nodded mournfully. "Master Snape is always at school. He is too busy for Daphne most of the time. Sometimes, Master Snape comes home though and talks to Daphne." She paused as though considering whether to speak further. Then, she giggled suddenly. "Sometimes, Master Snape has too much to drink and talks a lot more to Daphne about the most curious things…"

Harry laughed at the image of a drunken Snape ranting about his 'dunderhead students' to a house elf. Daphne was quiet for a moment. "Master Snape is very good to us elves, but don't tell him Daphne said that. Master Snape has some bad friends who don't like house elves much. If they found out-" She went back to sweeping the floor for a few moments. Harry took note of how well the elf was dressed. Most elves were given old rags to wear, but Daphne had on what appeared to be a children's party dress. It was quite strange.

Harry nodded. "That's good to hear. I have a friend who's an elf."

The elf nodded in approval and then dropped her broom and peered around to see if anyone was coming, then she spoke in a whisper. "Daphne also wants to tell Harry Potter that Master Snape speaks so very highly of him too!" Daphne said happily and nodded fiercely, as though agreeing with herself on the subject. "Master Snape always says Harry Potter has potential to do such great things! But…Master Snape also says that he wishes Harry Potter would try harder in school."

Harry's heart stopped for a moment and it took him a few seconds to get composure. Snape said that about him?

"Are you sure?" He asked the small, well-dressed elf. "He may have been talking about someone else. Maybe Draco Malfoy?"

Daphne shook her head and stated firmly. "No, sir. Daphne remembers he said Harry Potter's name. Daphne has a good memory, sir."

Harry, too perplexed to ask anything more on the subject, asked the elf if she wanted any help cooking dinner or finishing her chores, but she said no.

"So, does anybody else ever come up here? Any of Snape's relatives?" Harry asked, curious about Snape's family.

Daphne shook her head. "Master Snape doesn't have any relatives that come here. Master Snape has one sister, but she's—" Daphne slapped her hand over her mouth and looked around carefully to see if Snape was there. Then, she whispered to Harry again. "She's a muggle."

To say Harry was surprised would have been a serious understatement. Snape, the head of Slytherin house, the house notorious for favoring purebloods…had a muggle sibling? This was all becoming very weird to Harry. He started to wonder if he truly knew the man at all.

A couple of hours later, Severus Snape headed into the kitchen to find Daphne and Harry playing a game of cards. Harry appeared to be showing Daphne the rules of poker.

"Teaching my elf how to gamble, Potter?" Snape said, amused. "Or simply trying to make a quick buck?"

Daphne shook her head in disapproval of Snape's comment. "Harry Potter shouldn't listen to Master Snape. Daphne really appreciates Harry Potter teaching her how to play!"

Snape tried to hide the small smile gracing his stern face. "Daphne, have you prepared supper?"

Daphne nodded. "Yes, Master Snape. Dinner is warming in the oven, sir."

Snape nodded approvingly. "What about Mr. Potter's room? Did you bring him some fresh towels? And refresh the linens like I asked?"

Daphne nodded. "Daphne fixed Harry Potter's room yesterday, sir." Daphne continued, but was facing Harry now. She seemed to enjoy having someone else to talk to besides Snape.

"Master Snape was so very worried Harry Potter wouldn't like his room." She whispered quietly, but Harry was certain that Snape overheard her. Daphne looked pleased at having outed her master. She seemed keen on embarrassing him as much as possible, a trait Harry was sure Snape disliked.

Snape was busying himself trying to find a bottle of wine, but was eyeing the house elf. Once he found one that he deemed acceptable, he slammed it down on the table a little harder than he should have to make his point. He wanted the elf to stop embarrassing him.

Daphne continued, louder this time, much to Snape's dismay. "Master Snape really wants Harry Potter to like his room!"

Snape snapped his head up and looked at the house elf with a mix of anger and embarrassment glazing his eyes. "That's quite enough, Daphne. Please set the table for dinner at once. Hurry up, go on."

Harry smiled at how nervous and disgruntled Snape got when Daphne mentioned him being worried about how Harry would like his room. At this point, he believed the elf. Harry smiled down at her. "Will you be joining us for dinner, Daphne?"

Daphne dropped her cards and looked up to Snape pleadingly. Severus twisted his mouth as though he was considering his options, but nodded silently at the elf in approval.

Daphne relaxed at the sudden notion that she would, in fact, be eating. "Daphne really likes Harry Potter." She said quietly as she went to prepare the meal. "Harry Potter is so good to Daphne…yes, he is."

The elf walked away to fetch the food, talking to herself as she did so. Harry's heart got the best of him as he watched her waddle way, obviously glad to be getting dinner tonight. He wasn't a member of SPEW by any means, but he didn't think any living being should ever be denied food-especially given his own circumstances.

Harry scrunched his eyes and glared at Snape angrily. "Were you really not going to let her eat? That's not very nice. She did nothing wrong!"

Snape sighed as he sat down across from Harry. "I've told you once and I'll tell you twice. Do not speak of things you know nothing about, Potter. It has always been your weakness."

"That's just it. I do know about it. My uncle never let me eat with them at the table. They made me cook all of their bloody meals for them…and what did I get? Harry, their freak nephew, was always given the leftovers, if there were any." Resentment at his uncle was growing inside of him. "Trust me, sir. Usually there weren't any."

Snape was on the verge of becoming angry, however Harry's story plucked at his heartstrings at the same time. How dare the boy accuse him of being on the same level as his blasted abusive uncle? Snape stared at him coldly, but soon recognized the hurt in Harry's eyes and decided against any kind of angry retort. "Harry, when I received Daphne through the Prince family inheritance, I told her then that she is always welcome to anything in the kitchen at any time. I would never allow her to go hungry." He paused. "But, sometimes, she likes to…put me in the spotlight. So, I don't always like to eat with her when I have company. She tends to indulge people with too much information." He paused a second time, obviously highly embarrassed. "Satisfied now, Potter?"

Harry narrowed his eyes a bit as though considering his answer, but then smiled. "Yes, sir. I'm satisfied."

Snape rolled his eyes and sat down. "Like I should care whether you are or not." He mumbled.

He uncorked a bottle of wine and poured himself a glass. Harry was only fifteen, so he didn't expect to be given a glass as well.

"Oh, thank you sir." Harry said, his cheeks turning slightly red. "I usually don't get wine at dinner."

"Consider it a birthday present." Snape said dryly. "Speaking of your birthday, I have something I wanted to give you. But, it can wait until after dinner."

By the time they had finished eating, Daphne had delighted Harry several times with many rather embarrassing stories of Professor Snape. By the end of the meal, Harry had downed about three glasses of wine and about ten amusing Snape stories. His mind felt cloudy from the alcohol, but overall he felt good. He hadn't felt this good in a long, long time.

Severus cleared his throat. "I have something for you, Potter. Come with me."

Harry walked up the stairs with Snape, stopping when they reached his room.

"Wait here." Was all Snape said.

Severus went into his room and began rummaging through his closet. He pulled out an old trunk that looked as though it was collecting dust. Harry knew he wasn't supposed to go into Snape's room, but he couldn't help peering in just a little bit. He saw Snape leaning over an ancient looking trunk, searching through a massive amount of letters. Finally, he pulled out a slender, wooden box.

Severus stroked the box with a shaky finger and sighed. After what seemed like eternity staring at the trunk, he slammed it shut, locked it, and walked towards Harry.

Harry leaned against the wall for support. The wine made his feet feel awfully heavy.

"Here." Was all Snape said and thrust the box into Harry's hands.

Harry looked at it curiously and opened it. It appeared to be a wand.

"A wand." Harry stated. He looked up at Snape with question marks written all over his face. "What for?"

Severus smiled. "Read it."

Harry took the wand out of the box and twirled it around in his hands. He searched the wand for this so called 'writing'. Finally, he saw it. His heart leaped when he saw the name on the bottom.

L. Evans.

It was his mother's wand. What was Snape doing with his mother's wand?