AN: I'm back with another chapter. I am so pleased with all the positive reviews. It's making me get even more into the story and writing chapters as fast as I can. I hope you enjoy this one!
I do not own Harry Potter.
"Dumbledore?" Harry spluttered.
"Professor Dumbledore, Potter, show some manners," Snape corrected swiftly as he handed the headmaster a cup of tea.
"Ah, thank you, Severus," Dumbledore said and politely took the offered beverage. "How are you settling in?"
"Um, alright...I guess," Harry replied hesitantly.
"You're settling in fine, Potter," Snape snapped as he crossed his arms and leaned against the worktop.
"I mean we have only just arrived so I'm still not really settled in, sir. I'm still in shock I think."
"That's perfectly understandable, Harry," Dumbledore soothed. "It has been a really busy day and it is only the afternoon. I trust Professor Snape has explained the situation?"
"Yes he has."
"Now I know that it may seem unfair to cut all ties with your friends but it's for your safety. When things have calmed down then we will use Hedwig to send letters again. Otherwise for the time being, Harry Potter and Severus Snape do not exist until Peter is caught and confesses to the crimes. Voldemort is after both of you now thanks to Peter's plan but you, my boy, are still wanted by him and the Ministry. Lucius Malfoy is a key person as he was at the Ministry and watched Peter attack Cornelius but he wouldn't think twice about handing Severus over to Voldemort."
"Will you stop saying his name, Albus!" Snape hissed as he absentmindedly rubbed his branded arm.
Dumbledore didn't respond right away but Harry found it amusing.
"Voldemort," Harry said cheekily.
"Potter," Snape warned as he pressed his hand against the mark.
"Voldemort ,Voldemort, Voldemort."
"Enough! If you can't behave then go to your room," Snape bellowed and pointed towards the hallway. Dumbledore simply took a sip of his tea as his eyes twinkled with amusement.
"I'm only trying to have some fun," Harry pouted and slumped in his seat.
"Now, Severus, don't be so hard on him," Dumbledore said gently. "Let him have some fun."
"Fat chance of that happening."
Snape opened his mouth to scold the boy but Dumbledore threw him a look that clearly told him to keep it shut.
"There are plenty of things for you to do, Harry," Dumbledore smiled. " The beach is not far from here, the area is a wonderful place to walk with a park down the road. The village is just around the corner and there are other boys and girls your age there so you can make new friends so you will not be bored, my boy."
Harry's heart thumped at the chance to make new friends without having to worry about Dudley chasing them away or being hexed by Malfoy. People wouldn't know that he is the famous Boy-Who-Lived and befriend him with the hope of gaining fame for themselves. He could be normal...
"I'm afraid I'm grounded, Professor," Harry said and cast a sly glance at Snape.
"Grounded?" Dumbledore frowned. "Whatever for?"
"I answered a question wrong."
Snape choked on his black coffee that he was part way through sipping and shot daggers at Harry.
"That's it, go to your room!" Snape commanded. Harry looked at Dumbledore who nodded sadly and left the room. Snape was fuming that Harry made him look like an idiot.
"Albus, before you say anything-,"
"What question did he get wrong? Was it a potion question? Or a History of Magic question? Did you ask him a Latin question? I hate Latin; it's such a difficult dead language," Dumbledore asked casually.
"That brat is-,"
"What question?" Dumbledore pressed firmly as he cast Snape a steely gaze.
"I asked him, after explaining about the wards and how a magical person must be invited in, that if I were to ask him to invite me in, what would he say. And he wrongly answered yes. I told him he is confined to this house until he understands the situation."
"Ah, yes I can see your reasoning but to ground him for that? That is a bit extreme, Severus. This is a chance for you two to get to know each other. You two are very alike."
"We both have black hair and are wizards. That's where the similarities end."
"How long is he grounded?"
"Until I say otherwise."
"But what if you forget? You will have to deal with Harry twenty four seven and listen to his questions and put up with being interrupted whilst if he were allowed out you could have some peace and brew potions."
"...then he is grounded to two days...to settle in and familiarise himself with his new location."
"Ah now see? That's much better. Let Harry explore the area once he is comfortable."
Snape suddenly stopped and raised his hand to silence the headmaster. He pulled his wand out from his robes and cast a spell at the kitchen wall next to the doorframe. Harry squeaked in pain as the spell went through the wall and ran towards his room.
"Make that three days, Mr. Potter!" Snape called out to travel down the hallway.
"He's just curious, Severus," Dumbledore tried to reason as Snape put his wand away.
"No, he's being nosy."
"Children make mistake, Severus. Curiosity killed the cat, you know."
"And in my case it will be curiosity killed the Potter."
"I am sure you can keep him alive until we clear your names. You have kept him alive for the past five years."
"Only because I've had to chase after the blasted child because none of the Hogwarts staff ever scolded him!"
"I want Harry to return to Hogwarts alive, Severus. Alive and unbroken. Do not break his spirit and do not break your promise you gave to me and to Lily. I do not want an empty shell returning to my school or you will be forced to wear pink robes and hair for the rest of your life."
"Like that will happen, Albus."
Dumbledore waved his wand and Snape looked at his clothes and realised in shock, that he was wearing florescent pink robes. He pulled out his wand to reverse the spell but nothing worked. Dumbledore's magic was too strong.
"Change them back, Albus!" Snape demanded.
"Give me your word that you will treat Harry as Harry, and not as James Potter," Dumbledore replied.
"Albus!"
"Severus, your word."
"You have my word, now just change my robes back before Potter sees me!"
Dumbledore chuckled before relinquishing the spell and Snape was back in black.
"Now, seeing as this is a Muggle area, my boy," Dumbledore started. "Don't you think you should look more Muggle?"
"I'm not going anywhere so I don't see why I should."
"What about groceries and shopping? Are you going to trust Harry with the money? He may buy sweets and cakes instead of your strict diet."
Snape froze and scowled. "I don't have any Muggle worthy clothes."
"All taken care of," Dumbledore said cheerfully. "I took the liberty of getting you a new wardrobe as you were getting young Harry's. Black is such a foul colour to wear at all times."
"You better not have gotten me anything pink or yellow or orange or red or pruple or-,"
"Severus, you will still have your dignity. That, I can assure you."
Snape huffed as he leaned against the counter again. "This is not going to be easy. You know how hard this is for me."
"Don't avoid the boy, Severus," Dumbledore said as he stood up. He placed his cup down on the table and placed a hand on the younger wizard's shoulder. "I am not asking you to be friends, I am merely asking you both to co-operate with each other. He looks like James, yes, but look at his eyes and you will not only see Lily, but you will see who he is as himself. How can he be his parents if he can't remember them? All he knows is to be himself."
"When will your next visit be?"
"I'll drop by now and then. So far the Ministry have not connected me with your disappearance. Dolores is trying to run me out of the school but I must stay there for my students. Remus and Sirius will be visiting in about a fortnight."
"I am not having two mutts in this house!"
"You will not deny Harry the right to see his Godfather and the only other adult friend he has apart from the Weasleys. They will not visit often and they will not stay for long; only to see how you are going and to babysit Harry if needed. If you don't like it then go and sulk in the potions lab until they are gone," Dumbledore said harshly. Snape had actually flinched at the headmaster's tone. "They are the only two people who know of your where-a-bouts. Sirius can't tell anyone and Remus has the intelligence to keep quiet. No one suspects that he has any connection with Harry so the Ministry will not harass or question him of your location. Now, I must be off, but I just want to see Harry...or should I say Nathan, quickly before I depart. Remember Severus, I'm trusting you."
Snape nodded and Dumbledore dropped his hand from his shoulder after a quick pat. They walked to Harry's room and knocked on the door.
"Come in," Harry said miserably.
Dumbledore pushed the door open.
"Are you throwing a tantrum or sulking, Potter?" Snape growled when he saw the teenager sitting on his shins on the floor with his upper body spread out along the carpet.
"Ah, doing yoga? What a calming thing to do, Harry. I didn't know you had an interest in that," Dumbledore chirped.
Harry peaked out from under his arms and slowly rolled his spine up out of Child's Pose and sat up straight. "Yes sir, Hermione has been helping me with stress through it and to clear my mind."
"Excellent, excellent. I shouldn't have stopped all those years ago, too stiff and old to do it now though. Keep up the good work. I'm off my boy, try and behave."
"Like that will happen," Snape said under his breath and Dumbledore swiftly elbowed him in the chest. "Damnit, Albus, your elbows are like daggers!"
Dumbledore winked at Harry who tried to suppress his laughter. The oldest wizard pulled a bag of sweets out from his robes. "Here's a little house warming for you."
"I'll take that," Snape said as soon as he saw the bag. He snatched it away and opened it up. He pulled out a lollypop and tossed it to Harry. "That's all you are getting for today. I will not have you bouncing of the walls like Peeves. You will have a small sugar allowance each day."
Harry pouted but nodded in agreement. He would probably eat the entire bag in twenty minutes but at least with Snape guarding it, it would last a long time. He looked at the lollypop in his hand; Slytherin green. Bloody Snape!
"I shall take my leave now, gentlemen," Dumbledore announced and clapped his hands together once. Harry got to his feet and walked to the door with both professors.
Dumbledore stopped in the doorway. "I will return again one day and fill you in on what is going on. Keep an eye out for anything strange. Toodle pip."
Harry watched as Dumbledore left the safety of the wards and disapparated back to Hogwarts.
"Right then, Potter," Snape said and made Harry jump. "I want a three foot essay on manners, obedience and why eavesdropping is wrong."
Harry groaned as Snape steered him back to his bedroom and sat him at his desk.
"I expect it to be done by dinnertime," Snape sneered and left the room. Harry stuck his tongue out at his professor's retreating back.
"Put that tongue back in your mouth where it belongs before I cut it off!" Snape warned as he walked down the hallway. Harry quickly sucked his tongue back in and looked at his blank parchment. The next three days were going to drag on forever. He popped the lollypop in his mouth and let the apple flavour dissolve over his tastebuds. He jumped when Snape yelled in fury from his bedroom.
"ALBUS! MY HAIR IS PINK YOU MEDDLING OLD COOT!"