Author's Note: Ok, so not much happens in this chapter. But, again, I didn't want to go into the next part yet, I want to give it its own chapter.

-SQ

Disclaimer: Nope, sorry, haven't acquired Harry Potter since the last update.

Chapter Ten: Thing is...

Harry woke suddenly, his scar on fire. Still breathing heavily, he sat up and fumbled for his glasses, trying to recall the dream which had seemed so vivid. He had been in a dark room... There had been an old man...and a snake...and a man called Wormtail...and the cold, high voice that Harry knew belonged to Lord Voldemort...

Harry shivered. He closed his eyes and tried to remember more, but it was no use, the dream was slipping away like water through cupped hands. He rubbed his scar, which was still prickling painfully. Voldemort and Wormtail had been talking...about someone they had killed. And they had been planning something...to kill someone else...him!

Harry looked around nervously, half expecting something to jump out at him from the shadows at the corner of the room, but he was alone. He rubbed his eyes. The last time his scar had hurt like this it had been because Voldemort was at Hogwarts. But Voldemort couldn't be here, could he? Surely Snape would allow that...Harry trusted Snape.

He bit his lip. It was awfully early in the morning, and he didn't fancy waking his professor at this hour. He thought about writing Ron and Hermione, but dismissed the idea. They would only worry. Finally, though he knew Snape wouldn't like it, he decided to write to Sirius. He wouldn't put in anything about the dream, he didn't want to worry his godfather either, just about his scar, see if Sirius had any advice.

By the time Harry had finished his letter to Sirius, the sun was starting to peek over the horizon. Hedwig wasn't back yet from hunting, so he left it on his desk. Then he got dressed and walked downstairs, knowing he wouldn't be able to go back to sleep.

****CTK*****

Severus was quite surprised when he came down the stairs to find Harry, who usually slept late, already sitting at the kitchen table.

"Good morning," said Severus. "You're up early."

"Erm—yeah," said Harry. He was starting to feel rather silly for worrying so much about his scar and the dream. "I—er—had a dream."

Severus cocked an eyebrow. "I see..."

"I woke up with my scar hurting," said Harry a bit defensively. "The last time that happened Voldemort was at Hogwarts. But he couldn't be here, could he?"

"No," said Severus, more sharply than he had intended. "Harry, what was your dream about?"

"I—I can't remember much about it," said Harry uncomfortably, feeling more stupid by the second. "But Voldemort was in it, and Wormtail—Peter Pettigrew. They were plotting to kill...someone."

Severus's eyes narrowed. "Do you remember who?"

Harry cowered under Severus's piercing gaze. "Er...me," he said in a small voice.

A strange emotion played across Snape's face. Finally he gripped Harry's shoulder and said. "When your mother died I promised I'd do everything in my power to protect you. Harry, I don't know what your dream means, or the fact that your scar hurts, but I promise you are safe here. Tell me if your scar hurts again or if you have any more strange dreams."

Harry nodded.

"Now, how about some breakfast?"

Severus's mind whirled as he prepared eggs and toast for Harry and himself. The Dark Lord was up to something, of that Severus was sure. Pettigrew—Wormtail, had returned to him. What was going on Severus wasn't quite sure, but he knew it wasn't good. Albus should know about this. Severus glanced over at Harry. He was so young... Really, did the boy need any more problems in his life? Severus shook his head imperceptibly.

Damnit if I'm not worried about him, he thought ruefully. Of course, he had every reason to be worried, he thought grimly, when the Dark Lord was involved.

*****CTK*****

After breakfast, Harry went back up to his room to see if Hedwig had returned so he could send his letter to Sirius. She had, and she was not alone. A small, gray ball of feathers hit the side of his head like a fluffy torpedo.

"OUCH!" said Harry, rubbing the side of his head as he looked around at the flying missile. It was a minute owl which was whizzing excitedly around the room above his head. Harry looked down and saw that the little owl had dropped a letter on the floor at his feet. Picking the letter up, he realized that the address on the front was written in Ron's handwriting.

Oh dear, thought Harry when he had finished reading the letter. Ron had invited him to the Quidditch World Cup and, apparently, Mrs. Weasley had sent a letter to the Dursleys. Harry winced just thinking about it. Also, Ron said that he and the rest of the Weasleys would be picking him up at the Dursleys' on Sunday, tomorrow, at five o'clock. The only problem was that Harry wasn't at the Dursleys'.

*****CTK*****

"Er, Professor?" said Harry, knocking on Severus's study door.

Severus, who had been in the middle of writing his letter to the headmaster, looked up toward the door.

"Come in, Harry, what is it?"

Harry came in, Ron's letter clutched in his fist.

"Er—Professor. Ron's invited me to stay with his family for the rest of the summer, and to go see the Quidditch World Cup. He said that they'll pick me up at five o'clock tomorrow. Only they think that I'm still at the Dursleys'."

Harry shifted from foot to foot. Severus stared at the fidgeting boy.

"Well, you had better inform them to the contrary, then, hadn't you?" said Severus archly.

"Does that mean I can go?" said Harry eagerly.

Severus sighed. Of course, the boy would much rather stay with his friends than here with Severus, it was only natural. Still, it would be rather lonely in this old house once he had left... Nonsense, Severus scolded himself. He had lived here for years alone, he liked being alone.

"Of course you can go," he said.

Harry smiled. "Thank you." He gave the Potions Master a quick hug.

Severus patted his shoulder. "Come on now, none of that," he said gruffly, feeling touched. "Go write your friends to tell them that you're here."

*****CTK*****

That was easier said than done, Harry realized when he was upstairs, sitting at the desk with a blank piece of parchment in front of him. Just how was he going to tell Ron that he was living with Snape?

Dear Ron,

Don't come to the Dursleys', I'm not there right now...

No.

Dear Ron,

When you come tomorrow you should come to Spinner's End, not Privet Drive...

No, no.

Dear Ron,

There are some things that have changed since I last saw you...

Again, no.

Dear Ron,

Remember last year when I got sick...

No, no, no!

Dear Ron,

Of course I want to go to the World Cup with you! But some things have kind of changed since I saw you last. Do you remember when I got really sick last year, and how Professor Snape took care of me? Well, I know this is going to sound really strange, so don't freak out or anything, but I'm not living with the Dursleys anymore. I'm staying with Snape in Spinner's End. He says that I can go with you though, so you can pick me up here tomorrow. I can't wait! See you soon.

-Harry

Author's Note: So I paraphrased & shortened a lot of the dream stuff because I didn't want to just write it over again from the book. You all know what happened. Also, I didn't include what Ron's letter said because, again, you know that already. I know it wasn't the most interesting chapter, sorry, but it had to be here.

-SQ