A/N
Hi everyone! I'm back and here is the next chapter. I made it a longer one and plan to update quickly...let's see;-)
Nothing of the characters is mine. Obviously, that hasn't changed in the last three weeks.
Enjoy and as always: let me know what you think!
The boy sat at the table when Severus entered the dining room for breakfast. It was five minutes to eight. The Potions Master walked around the Gryffindor and took his usual seat. "Good morning, Professor." Potter said, looked up for a moment or two but dropped his gaze as soon as he finished his words.
Severus sighed to himself and answered: "Good morning, Mr. Potter. I am pleased to see you down here early enough for breakfast." The boy looked up again and his emerald eyes locked with the black ones of Severus. The man noticed small bags under the young eyes. Maybe from not enough sleep? Or had the boy been crying?
"Do you have time for supervising my homework today, Sir?" The boy asked meekly and once again looked away.
"Yes, I planned on working in the library after breakfast. It would be reasonable to do your summer assignments then, Mr. Potter." Severus answered and studied the young Gryffindor closely. He wore his dressing shirt again. 'Another attempt to not irritate me?'.
"Yes, Sir." Harry responded. At that moment the breakfast appeared and Severus helped himself to toast and marmalade. The boy waited until Severus had his food on his plate then he carefully grabbed a toast. He looked down once more and began nibbling on the edge.
They ate in silence but Severus did his best to take much more time than usual so Potter would have certainly enough this morning. 'He would stop eating as soon as I am finished.' Severus thought and read the Daily Prophet to slow things down even more. After a while, he ended his breakfast and stood from the table.
"I expect you to be in the library in ten minutes, Potter." With that, he turned on his heel, stalked down the small corridor and entered the library.
Severus had barely sat down at a desk and started writing out lesson plans for the upcoming school year when the door opened and Harry stepped through. He had a pile of parchment in his arms as well as some books. Severus pointed at a second desk at the window and resumed to his lesson plans. He heard Harry shuffling over and start his homework.
After an hour Severus decided to check on the lad. Quietly he walked over and looked on the parchment in front of Potter. The essay he was working on was potions. How fitting. The boy struggled with some questions as it seemed. He searched hastily through the book and scribbled some notes on the parchment. Severus watched him for a total of ten minutes but Potter didn't write anything down which would lead him anywhere near the answers.
"What is the problem, Mr. Potter?" The young Professor asked. Harry shot up straight from his seat and turned around hands held out for protection. Behind him, the ink pot poured its content over the desk. As soon as the boy saw who had startled him he dropped his arms and glanced at the mess on his soon-to-be-essay. He gulped dryly and looked back up at his Professor. Shoulders hunched up and clearly uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry, Sir! It won't happen again, I'll clean it up." Severus ignored his apologies, drew his wand and vanished the ink from the desk. Then he conjured a new pot and levitated it to stand next to the now blank parchment.
"It was not my intention to startle you. I merely wondered why you did not ask me if you had difficulties with my assignment instead of scribbling down nonsense." Severus stated coolly and glared at his charge. The raven-haired boy dropped his head but said nothing, just bit his lower lip hard enough to draw blood.
Severus saw this and without thinking, he reached forward and lifted Harry's chin. When the boy flinched Severus ignored it and gently pulled the bleeding lip out from between the boy's teeth with his thumb. Then he murmured a healing spell and let go of the young face. Emerald eyes stared at him with a mix of fear and surprise.
Severus ignored him again and summoned a chair. He sat down next to Harry's seat. "So tell me. What is the problem?" he said and waited for the boy to sit back down. Silence spread between them but the young Gryffindor quickly recognized what his professor was about to do. He took his seat and stared at the blank parchment. Snape had vanished not only the spilled ink but also his notes!
"Mr. Potter. That rubbish wouldn't have you brought anywhere near the answer. You are supposed to discuss the different outcomes of using the wrong amount of ingredients in the Wit-Sharpening Potion. Tell me what you know about it!" Severus decided he would help the boy just enough to get him on the right path. 'Let's see what the golden boy can do...' he thought.
"The ginger roots won't do anything to the potion." Harry began thinking out loud. Severus groaned inwardly.
"Think before you blurt out stupid assumptions, Potter. Concentrate or you will never find the answers!" he reprimated sternly. Blank horror was evident on the boy's face and Severus resisted the urge to roll his eyes. 'He looks like I am going to eat him the very next moment.' "Calm down, Mr. Potter and THINK!"
The boy took some deep breaths and stared into the air. Then after a few minutes, he looked at Severus and said:"Maybe if there is less than the recommended amount of ginger the effect of the potion could be weakened?"
"Is that a statement or a question, Mr. Potter?" Severus asked looking at his student. When Harry didn't answer immediately, Severus opened the potions book and thumbed through it until he found the page about ginger. He shoved the book in front of the boy and waited for him to read.
After a while, Harry's head came up, and he said: "The effect could be reduced but if you add more than necessary the potion will change its color and the reaction might cause the scarab beetles to lose their impact." The emerald eyes studied Severus carefully, looking out for every tiny reaction and Severus could see a hint of worry in them. He nodded curtly and his gaze softened a bit.
"Indeed, Mr. Potter. Write that down and then elaborate the same with the scarab beetles and the Armadillo bile!" The boy flipped through the book and eagerly took some notes. Sometimes he asked a question and Severus lead him to think about it himself. For two hours the both sat at the desk and Harry looked up information and took notes. The young Potions Master sat beside him and helped if necessary.
After another half an hour, Harry put his quill aside and looked up. "Professor? I think I am done. Do you...have any … objections?" he lowered his gaze and waited for the answer. Severus wanted to shake the boy.
Why should he have objections? For the last two and a half hours, he had sat next to the lad and thought everything through with him! If there would be any mistakes, he would have told him. "No, Mr. Potter. In my opinion, you have worked quite well and I will gladly accept your essay on the first day of term." He nodded and stood from his chair. He just wanted to go back to his own work but was stopped by the small voice of Potter.
"Thank you, Sir. I think it is the first time I really understand the matter. Thank you for your patience." The young Gryffindor, for the first time since he was in Snape Manor, looked directly into Severus' obsidian eyes and held the gaze. He didn't cower away or lower his head. Severus sensed how much courage it must cost the teen to do that. But then he realized that he had done something for the first time, too. Severus Snape had patience with a Harry Potter. And he had enjoyed seeing the boy flourish and understand.
The Potions Master nodded once more and said: "You are welcome, Mr. Potter." Then he turned and swept over to his own desk. Before he started, he looked at the boy. "If you want to go outside after lunch, you may. Stay on the lawn or the path and be back for dinner!" With that, he took his quill and wrote down a lesson for the third years.
A small smile spread over Harry's face, and he started to really relax for the first time since the begin of the Triwizard Tournament. Snape wasn't as bad as he'd thought, maybe this summer could bring at least some pleasant moments?
Harry was walking on the narrow path surrounding the house. The sun shone warmly on his face, and he heard the birds twittering in the trees across the lawn. Lunch had been a lot more relaxed than the meals before. Snape had said nothing as usual, but he hadn't spread this tense and annoyed atmosphere. Harry had felt a bit more comfortable for the first time since he got here. Maybe because he began to understand that Snape won't hit him. If he would, there had been more than enough moments where he could've done so. But there were always some doubts in the back of Harry's head. Sometimes Uncle Vernon was at least civil for a few days but then his anger was even worse and Harry paid for it. He was careful around Snape. The dungeon bat certainly could switch its mood quickly. Damn it, the man was a spy. He knew how to change fast and play roles well, to pretend something.
That was one of the reasons why Harry didn't want to provoke the Potions Master further. The last two days there had happened enough. Today in the library Harry had not been able to concentrate properly. His thoughts had drifted to his friends, to the tournament and then back to Cedric and Voldemort. When Snape had appeared behind him, Harry had been lost in his memories. But the man had been nice. More friendly than Harry had ever thought possible for the dark Potions Master. Snape maybe wan really not as bad as everyone thought... and as he made everyone believe.
The scars on Harry's torso had been a topic neither at breakfast nor at lunch. Which Harry was really grateful for. It was one thing that Snape knew about them, but an absolutely other to talk to him! In the morning after waking up, Harry had smeared some of the balms on the worst welts again. It had been an incredible relieving feeling to see them fade more and more. One or two of the smaller ones were almost gone completely!
Harry continued on the path but changed direction soon to go on the grass. Then he took off his shoes and socks and enjoyed the cool feeling of the soft grass under his bare feet. He looked at the sky and a smile spread over his face. The sun warmed his whole body. The teen looked down on his body a noticed his dressing shirt had some dirt on it. 'I will have to wash it in the sink before I go down for dinner.' Harry contemplated, digging his toes in the cool ground while walking.
The young Gryffindor stopped in front of a big tree and sat down at the base. He leaned back against the wood and closed his eyes. The boy was actually really tired. Last night he had slept peacefully, but in the early morning hours, he had woken from one of his nightmares. Now, sitting under a tree in the sun, this dream seemed far away but Harry knew that he might wake the coming night again. The last time his screams had been muffled by the pillow because he laid on his stomach. But what was he supposed to do if that wasn't the case? Snape's room was next to his. The Professor would certainly wake up. And the dreams were terrible enough without Snape knowing.
A silencing spell wasn't an option. That was the last thing Harry needed: Being expelled because of a stupid nightmare! Perhaps he could take one of the potions in the bathroom closet? Madame Pomfrey had given a lilac potion to him for sleep. That was a good idea, Harry decided and grinned. This evening he would sneak a potion from the bathroom.
When Harry opened his eyes, he saw the sinking sun. How long had he been sitting here? Oh, no, hopefully, it wasn't too late for dinner? Suddenly quite awake, the teen jumped to his feet and sprinted towards the house. Before he entered he pulled his socks back on and stomped into his shoes. In the entrance hall, he looked at the big Grandfather-clock next to the lab door. A relieved breath escaped his lunges. It was a quarter to eight. There was enough time for changing in a clean shirt and coming to dinner on time.
Quickly Harry ran up the stairs and into his room. He grabbed the cleanest dressing shirt he could find — there wasn't enough time to wash his current one — and hastily changed. On his way to the dining room, Harry hurried into the bathroom and combed his unruly hair (Uncle Vernon hated it — better attempt to flatten it a bit to not give Snape any targets). A sudden idea crossed his mind and Harry opened the closet. There were indeed some potion vials. Harry's hands flew through the different colored vials. Panic rose inside the boy as he found nothing than minor healing potions and bruise balm.
Desperately he shut the closet doors and stormed out of the bathroom, down the stairs. He was even five minutes too early but Snape already sat at his usual place. The Potions Master looked up and his black eyes scanned Harry's form from head to toe. Harry felt uncomfortable under the burning gaze, but he moved forward and sat down next to the man. Then he met his teacher's eyes and greeted: "Good evening, Professor."
Snape nodded and said: "Good evening Mr. Potter. Thank you for staying inside the borders I have set for you outside." Harry's jaw dropped — almost — Snape thanked him for such a simple thing? The man couldn't be all here! Maybe this was just another person hiding under a charm or … Polyjuice Potion. Harry gulped at the sudden thought of Barty Crouch Junior as Moody. Quickly he shook his head to get rid of the idea and dropped his eyes to his plate, not answering Snape.
Then the food appeared, and They started eating without talking much more. After dinner, Snape went over to his chair in front of the fire. As soon as he sat down, a cup of steaming tea appeared in front of him. A moment later there was a second cup. Those black eyes found Harry's green ones and Snape motioned for him to come over.
Hesitantly Harry shuffled to the couch. To his surprise, the second cup was filled with hot chocolate with a big scoop of whipped cream on it. Harry gave his teacher a small smile and sunk into the soft cushions breathing in the delicious smell of chocolate from the cup. Snape waved his wand and a book flew out of the library directly in his hands. Before he started reading he waved his wand again and a second book came around the corner landing softly in front of Harry. Puzzled the young Gryffindor looked at his Professor then at the book.
'Magical creatures of the dark, An introduction to the world of thestrals and basilisks.'
Harry shot a surprised look towards Snape. His mouth forming a quiet 'Oh'.
"I had got a notion that you might be interested in such topics. This copy is a bit less dangerous than the one you tried yesterday." The man stated and let his black hair fall in front of his face before starting to read. Harry was surprised for the third time this day.
Smiling he answered: "Um...yes, Sir. Thank you!" His Professor just gave a curt grunt and continued reading on his own. The two sat in silence, both deeply caught in their reading until Harry heard the Grandfather-clock strike half ten. Reluctantly he closed his book. It was really very interesting and Harry had read almost half of it. He set the book down on the table and stood.
Uncertainly he cleared his throat and said: "Good night, Professor. Thank you for the hot chocolate … and your help earlier today." His voice got weaker to the end of the sentence but Snape had heard him anyway.
The Potions Master looked up and straight at Harry. "You are welcome, Mr. Potter. Good night." With a last intense gaze at Harry, he went back to reading and Harry walked out into the hall and ascended the stairs.
With an uneasy feeling, he went to bed.