Chapter 9
Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk when Snape entered.
"Did you know?" Snape asked as he sat down.
Dumbledore sighed. "I knew that Harry was never treated like a son at the Dursleys's house. Nothing more."
"Very Slytherin of you, Albus," Snape commented, thinking about how much easier it must have been for Albus to ignore Potter's situation. The less he knew, the better.
Ignoring him, Dumbledore said, "Petunia Dursley is the only family Harry has. Her blood protects Harry from Voldemort."
Snape flinched involuntarily.
"She never cared for Harry as I would have wished but she did not spoil him, and did in fact provide a home for him." Dumbledore continued. It seemed as if he was trying to convince himself.
Snape remained silent, recalling that he had no vested interest in the boy.
"I admit," Dumbledore went on, "that I do not know the full extent of what Harry has gone through at the hands of the Petunia and her family, but Harry is resilient and has borne out his time there quite well."
Snape's head snapped up. "That is all you care about? That he has 'borne' it?"
"No, Severus," Dumbledore said tiredly, "I regret what he has been through but I cannot change it now." He paused. "However, perhaps you can."
"What do you mean?" Snape asked suspiciously.
"I have yet to begin on the research to send young Harry back. As he seems quite comfortable here, I see no reason to rush at the moment with so much more going now. He seems to have found quite a good guardian in you."
"Me?" Snape snorted.
"Did you not notice how the boy defended you? He has obviously formed an attachment to you."
"If he is comparing me to the Muggles he lives with, of course he has!"
"So you agree that you are a good guardian for Harry Potter?"
"I do not have a choice in the matter as it is."
"Then I trust you to give him the childhood he deserves, while you can. I see so many similarities between you and him."
Snape quickly strode out before he was tempted to argue any longer. As he walked through the castle, he thought about what the Headmaster had said. The old man obviously did not condone Potter's treatment, but truly, in their present time, Potter had but one more year to stay with his relatives. He snorted to himself. Potter was an arrogant menace. He remembered seeing Potter's memories last year and had simply considered the incidents with his relatives as Potter's due.
It was the boy who Snape was thinking about now. The small boy who wore baggy, oversized clothes, and had never had toys, or parents or friends to care about him until… He stopped that train of thought immediately. It had been a long time since he had visited memory lane, but he seemed to be doing so more often lately. The boy was nothing like him. Nothing at all.
Snape was surprised to note how easily Potter adapted to being his ward; one would think they were actually related. Potter asked permission whenever he wanted to go visit Hagrid, he walked with Snape to all meals and chattered nonstop in the evening about his day.
Snape for his part found that his hatred for Harry Potter did not extend to this child. Perhaps it was all spent on the older version, or perhaps he just didn't feel like dealing with another Potter. Perhaps Albus's words about being nice to Potter had actually gotten in to some part of his head. At first he had ignored Potter, but Potter seemed to be quite thick-skinned and refused to back down even when faced with Snape's vitriol.
It had to be the lack of ability to take house points or give detentions Snape thought bitterly as the brat tentatively took his hand while they were walking to the Great Hall for dinner. Needless to say, Snape shook him off immediately, not that Potter seemed to be fazed.
"Good evening, Severus and Henry," Minerva McGonagall said smiling.
"Good evening, Professor McGonagall," Harry replied happily, causing Minerva to beam, something which seldom, if not never happened. The brat had all the staff eating out of the palm of his hand, Snape grumbled to himself, not that Potter seemed to notice himself.
"Henry!" Snape snapped, halfway through the meal, "Why are your vegetables completely untouched?"
Potter made a puzzled face, "I'm eating vegetables, sir," he said pointing to his mashed potatoes."
Snape rolled his eyes. "Potatoes are not vegetables. Eat all the greens on your plate or no dessert tonight."
Harry pouted and made that puppy-dog face that would cause those weaker than Snape to break. Sprout, naturally, was first.
"Oh come now, Severus, the poor child is so thin as it is. Surely you wouldn't deny him dessert."
"I assure you I would," Snape said through clenched teeth. Perhaps he had underestimated Potter and he did in fact know his power among the staff. He glared at Potter and Potter glared back. Potter broke off first and sighed, "Okay, I'll eat my vegetables because you told me to, sir," he said obediently shoving a forkful into his mouth.
Snape smirked in triumph at winning this particular battle, but the smirk slid off as he realized that his colleagues had decided to reward this obedient behavior with second, and then third helpings of dessert! When his protests had been met with a barrage of "Oh Severus, the poor child…" he had given up and left.
Harry felt a little bad for needling Snape. He had never had anyone care about his eating habits before, nor had he ever gotten the amount of attention the Hogwarts teaching staff gave him. In the end, he decided it would be best to apologize to Snape.
However, when he got back to Snape's chambers, the man wasn't there. Was he mad at him, Harry thought worriedly. He looked at the time and saw that he still had fifteen minutes till the curfew Snape had set for him to be in the dungeons. Maybe he could find the man in that amount of time. He set off quickly and walked up to the second floor. As he passed by a large window, he stopped abruptly as he saw a lone dark figure walking across the grounds. Snape, Harry thought and hurried downstairs.
Snape was approaching the forest as Harry ran across the grounds as fast as he could to catch up with him. "Professor Snape!" Professor Snape!" he called out as he approached.
Snape looked around before turning and noticing Harry running to catch up with him. "Potter!" he snarled menacingly, "What are you doing here at this time of night?"
"I… just wanted to say… I'm sorry about what happened… at dinner," Harry panted.
"What on earth are you talking about, Potter," Snape snapped, "get back to the castle immediately!"
"Where were you going?" Harry asked, ignoring him, "You're not leaving because I was rude to you, are you?"
Snape paused. "Potter, contrary to what you might believe, the world does not revolve around you. I am not angry with you and I am not leaving. I will be back later."
"You will?" Harry said, relief palpable in his voice.
"Yes," Snape said, glancing around quickly.
"Where are you going?" Harry asked, not seeming the least bothered that they were standing at the corner of the Forbidden Forest and Snape had his wand out and was looking tense.
"None of your business, Potter. I do not have time to wait for someone to pick you up so you are to go back to the castle and stay in our quarters. Is that clear?" Snape glared at him seriously, telling him he meant business.
"Okay, sir," Harry answered in a small voice.
"Go now, while I'm watching."
Harry turned around and began jogging away. When he was near the castle, he turned around and saw Snape clutching his left arm as he walked into the forest.
A/N: I know, I know, it's been a while but what to do when life and writer's block get in the way. Anyway hope you liked the new chapter, written in honor of my birthday. It's my gift to you!
