Chapter 9: Petrificus Totalus!

"Potter! What are you doing?"

Upon hearing Snape enter the room, Harry froze, his arm extended above his head holding a frame that had a picture of Dudley wearing his Smelting's uniform. "What does it look like I'm doing?" Harry let the frame he was holding fall from his grasp and it crashed to the floor, glass shattering everywhere.

"It looks to me as if you are destroying personal property." Snape took a step closer and that is when Harry realized his professor had his wand out. Although the wand was not pointed at him, Snape looked like he was ready for battle all the same.

"Personal property? Are you kidding me? You said this wasn't REALLY their house. So, these pictures aren't REALLY theirs either. Its bad enough I have to live here with you and that ferret faced Death Eater wannabe. I draw the line at having to look at my whale of a cousin!" Harry took another frame off the wall and forcefully threw it to the floor.

Snape raised his wand arm and aimed at Harry. "Do that again, Potter, and you will regret it. Now, I believe I have given you enough warnings about talking to me with disres…." Harry let another frame crash to the floor. "That's it Potter. You can't say I didn't warn you."

With a soft spoken incantation Snape let his wand arm fall. Harry stood there for a moment not really understanding what spell Snape had cast. At first it appeared that his professor had changed his mind and had not cast at all. Harry found that unlikely though.

When Harry went to say as much, he quickly realized what had been done to him. He couldn't speak. Not a word or whisper could be heard when Harry tried to produce sound. Furious, Harry started to throw more pictures to the floor. He only had about four frames left and quickly finished them off. Well, that was fun, Harry thought, but he wanted more. He turned and saw the mantle above the fireplace. More pictures of Dudley. Dudley and his first day of school, Dudley at a carnival, Dudley riding a pony and on and on it went. Dudley, Dudley, Dudley!

Harry swiftly took off in the direction of the mantle. He would see this job done and then worry about the mess. His mind was set on rage and destruction, his lack of voice forgotten. He knew that Snape wouldn't leave him voiceless forever; he couldn't defeat Voldemort without a voice.

At no time did Harry stop to ponder the cause of his uncontrollable anger. Was it the death of his godfather? Was it having to live with Malfoy and Snape? Or was it all the years of living with the Dursleys? And that was the kicker, wasn't it? Being forced to live in a replica of the Dursley home just proved to Harry that Dumbledore had no idea what Harry went through during his life with his aunt and uncle. Harry supposed it was possible that Dumbledore had known all along and just didn't care. He really needed to find out if there were locks on the bedroom door upstairs. That would be very telling.

Having reached the fireplace mantle, Harry grabbed the first frame, turned and threw it against the far wall. It came very close to hitting Snape in the head and perhaps that is why Harry suddenly found himself stiff as a board and toppling over onto the floor.

Great! Just what he needed. A good, strong, Petrificus Totalus!

Harry stared at the ceiling, unable to move or speak. Snape came into focus, leaning over slightly to stare down at him.

"Potter, believe me when I tell you that you will stay exactly as you are until I have finished speaking. When I am done speaking, I will cancel both spells and you will be free to clean up this mess and retire to your room for the evening. I would ask you if I am making myself clear, but as you cannot move or speak, that would be pointless."

Snape moved out of Harry's vision and took a seat in the same chair he had occupied early. Harry couldn't help the funny thought that Uncle Vernon's chair had already claimed Snape as its' new master. Snape began to speak even though Harry could not see him. This, to Harry, seemed somewhat creepy, almost as if it was the voice of God or some other deity.

"I know that you are not happy with your current situation. You would rather be at school, skimming by in all of your classes, breaking rules and keeping company with your equally annoying two best friends. However, that is not an option. You and I are, in fact, stuck in the same difficult position of not being able to do what we want."

Snape took a long pause and Harry began to wonder if that was all the man was going to say. Surely not, but the silence continued. Harry was starting to get worried that he had indeed been left in the room alone when Snape began speaking again.

"I know that you do not like me and I don't really care. I know that you do not like Draco Malfoy and again I do not care. What I do care about is doing what the Headmaster has sent me here to do, to train you in more important matters. Rather than being at school learning the normal sixth year curriculum; whatever horrendous being Professor Hagrid would have introduced you to, whatever plant Professor Sprout would have had you replanting and whatever your normal required time in Madam Pomfrey's care would have been, instead you will be with me."

"The Headmaster has given me a detailed outline of everything he would like for you to learn. We can go over that at another time when you can find yourself in control of your emotions. I will not start something so important when you are clearly acting like an imbecilic child."

There was another long pause, when again Harry thought his professor might be finished talking. Again, he was wrong.

"There is one more thing that you should know. Draco is here for far different reasons than your own. Reasons, for which, if he would like for you to know he will share with you. However, since he must be here, it would only make sense to give him the same training that you will be receiving. There is no reason to have him idly observe while you are learning advanced magic. The bickering between the two of you will quickly drive me insane. Therefore, I will not tolerate it. Do I make myself clear? The two of you at each others throats will only earn you my wrath. Trust me, you do not want that."

Harry could hear Snape standing and walking towards him. His professor came into view again. "I will now cancel both spells. You will be able to speak again and move. If one foul, disrespectful word comes out of your mouth, you will find yourself mute for an entire week. I should have you repair the mess you made and hang the pictures of your cousin back where they belong, but as I do not wish to look at his spoilt, cherub face either, you may discard everything. I will see you in the morning, Potter."

Snape disappeared from Harry's view, the minute he did both spells were cancelled. Harry found that he could move again if he wished. However, he stayed where he was, staring at the ceiling and thinking about everything that Snape had said. It was disconcerting to learn that he would not only be living with Malfoy, but learning right along side him with Snape as their teacher.

Harry pushed himself to his feet and looked around the living room. It was a mess. He had done a fine job of destroying almost all the frames in the room, as a few on the mantle had survived. He took his wand and quickly cleaned up all of the glass, frames and pictures. He put it all in the trash in the kitchen. Not wanting to be tempted into another frame breaking session, he took the rest of the pictures from the mantle and placed them in the trash as well.

Once everything was cleaned up Harry decided there was nothing else to do but go to his bedroom. He started the short trek up the stairs, his bag slung over his shoulder, wondering if there would really be locks on his bedroom door in the replica Dursley house.