Author's Note:
Thank you to all of my readers and especially everyone who has taken the time to comment and review :)
I got a few messages last time about Master Barclay being unreasonably strict with manners and protocol, a few people saying that it was too ridiculous to believe. I agree, it seems absurd, but as someone who has gone to school/graduate school and worked in academia in the UK, there are still a bunch of old ass men (usually) who are insane about these things. The first time I worked in a lab at an "elite" institution, I was 15 on a summer research program. I made the mistake of casually referring to another one of the professors as "Dr. So-and-so" (using their last name, thinking I was being perfectly polite) and I got DESTROYED by the head of the department. I was given such a thorough dressing down that I actually cried while it was explained to me in detail about the proper way to address other people along with an explanation of their titles (a bunch of these people also have "Sir" or "Lord" as well as their academic titles). I never forgot this (translation: I was slightly traumatized, for life).
As a grad student/post-doc going to meetings for the Royal Society of Whatever- protocol was insane. People absolutely made sure they introduced people in the right order, stood at the right time, let appropriate people walk ahead of them. It was mental- I depended on my mentors to teach me these things so I didn't look like an ass when I was meeting important people (people I needed to impress for grants/publications/collaborations). These old dudes are part of another generation- they were all educated at big name boarding schools and went to big name places for their degrees where they grew up surrounded by hierarchy. They care about this stuff a lot. It is real, I assure you. I know that after learning the hard way as a young student, I have NEVER forgotten any of this and go out of my way to this day (despite having my own degrees and titles) to ensure I always, always get this stuff right, even with people who are younger. I also know if you want to help your students/interns survive in the future, you teach them and pass it on (although I'd never EVER humiliate someone or make them cry the way I was "taught"). It's disappearing, but it is not gone. Master Barclay is based on some of my own mentors and professors, he was not pulled out of thin air ;)
Anyhoo- I hope you brought your snacks and your car-BINGO cards (and possibly a tranquilizer), we're going on a road trip!
Snape kept a firm hand on Harry as they stepped out of the floo, knowing he was still a bit unsteady when traveling by wizarding means.
He checked his watch, it was 5:59. Not too early and not yet late. Perfect. Snape breathed a sigh of relief. He dusted himself off and stepped forward, keeping his grip on Harry.
"Perfect timing! Good morning Severus, Mr. Potter," Master Barclay greeted them enthusiastically.
"Good morning Master Barclay," Harry said, his head still feeling a bit woozy. He was grateful that Snape still had a steadying hold on him.
"Please, take a seat if you need a minute. I know floo travel can be a bit...disorienting. Would you like a glass of water or some juice?" Master Barclay looked sympathetically at Harry, whose face was still a bit pale from his floo journey.
"No, sir. I just need a moment."
Master Barclay put his hand on Harry's back and nodded at Snape who let go of his arm. He guided him to the couch and sat him down.
"It will pass shortly. Just relax for a moment." Master Barclay then turned to Snape, "Have a seat, Severus. Would you care for a cup of tea?"
Snape took a seat next to Harry. "Yes, thank you, that would be lovely."
Barclay had hoped to get started as soon as possible, but he wanted to make sure that Harry was completely recovered for their long car journey. He didn't want to put a nauseous boy in the car and have him feeling sick the entire way to Wales.
The three of them sat in Barclay's parlor for several minutes while Snape sipped at his tea, hoping that the caffeine would give him a boost.
Within a minute, Harry was feeling back to normal and he sat quietly on the sofa, looking around Barclay's parlor. It wasn't what he expected at all. It was quite modern and chic. It looked like the home of a very well-to-do Muggle who enjoyed throwing parties and entertaining. Unlike the dark wood and heavy fabrics of the dungeon, it was light and fresh with a Nordic aesthetic. It might have looked cold if not for the many photos and interesting pieces of art that gave it some color and life.
"I like your house, Master Barclay, it's really nice" Harry said. Snape looked up from his cup and glared at the boy but said nothing.
Master Barclay beamed. "Why thank you, Mr. Potter. I must admit, I didn't do the decorating myself, but I think it works." He clapped him on the shoulder. "Are you feeling better?"
"Yes sir, I feel just fine now."
Snape brooded as he finished his tea. He hoped Harry wasn't feeling this talkative the entire trip.
Barclay glanced over at Snape "Very well, then. If you're both ready, we can head out. We have quite a long day of driving ahead of us. I may have slightly underestimated the time of the trip a bit, not realizing that a good portion of our journey will take us on smaller roads."
Master Barclay stood, and Snape and Harry took that as a cue to stand and follow him into the foyer.
"We'll take my car, it's parked just out front. Does anyone need anything else before we go?" Barclay looked eager to leave, and reached for the door handle before awaiting an answer.
"No, sir, I'm ready," Harry said, clearly excited about the trip ahead. He followed quickly behind Master Barclay as he opened the front door, bounding right past Snape without a second thought.
As Harry skipped out the door ahead of him, Snape mumbled sarcastically "After you, your majesty" before rolling his eyes and closing the door behind himself.
Master Barclay lived in a beautiful neighborhood just between Paddington and Notting Hill. There were little parks and community gardens along the streets and in the afternoons and on weekends, there were often people jogging, walking their dogs, and bringing their children out to play. But at just after 6:00am, the streets were still dark and quiet.
They walked about 50 meters until they got to a silver Mercedes parked on the left-hand side of the street. Master Barclay pushed a button on his keyring and the lights flashed, unlocking the car doors.
"Wow, is this your car?" Harry looked up at Barclay with his mouth open, impressed.
"Yes it is, Mr. Potter. I do a fair bit of collaboration with my Muggle counterparts, so I often need to drive around to meetings and conferences outside of London. Although I much prefer the efficiency of wizarding travel, it is quite a comfortable ride, I find."
Snape walked around to the passenger side door and waited patiently for Barclay to get in or give him a signal to go ahead. The cup of tea hadn't helped his mood at all, he grumbled to himself about how much he hated riding in cars.
Without waiting for anyone else, Harry opened the car door, jumped in the backseat and sprawled himself out on the luxurious leather seats. He smiled to himself until he heard an angry tapping on the window. He looked up to see Snape's face glaring down at him, motioning for him to sit up and mouthing Sit up straight!. Harry ignored him and continued to explore the backseat, pulling on a leather handle and bringing down a large center console.
After placing a few things in the trunk, Master Barclay slid into the driver's seat. Snape followed suit, opening the door on the passenger side and closing it firmly behind him, making his displeasure evident.
As soon as he sat down, Snape whipped around to look at Harry. The boy was still somewhat sprawled out across the seats, but he had pulled the middle console down and was leaning on top of it, opening and closing a set of cup holders that retracted from the end of it.
Snape reached back with his right arm and smacked Harry's hand. "Don't play with that," he snapped, his face in a deep snarl. Harry locked eyes and stared at him defiantly as he slowly pushed the cup holder back in. He flashed a toothless smile at Snape as it clicked audibly.
"Sit properly, Potter," Snape said as he pulled Harry's right leg down off the seat and onto the floor, adjusting his body roughly until he was sitting up straight. Snape held himself back from giving him further words, not wanting to do so in front of Master Barclay, but his eyes and his face screamed at Harry that he better behave.
Harry crossed his arms and sighed loudly as he leaned back on the seat and looked out the window. The car hadn't even left the street yet and Snape was already being a horrible git.
Master Barclay turned the ignition and started the car. "Everyone please put on your seatbelts." As he put it in gear, he glanced up in the rearview mirror and smiled at Harry. "Make yourself comfortable, Mr. Potter, you should have plenty of space back there if you'd like to lie down. Please just remove your shoes if you wish to put your feet up."
Harry buckled his seatbelt and then proceeded to remove his trainers rather dramatically, dropping them one at a time and letting them thud the floor of the car. When Snape looked at him again, he gave him a smirk as he folded his feet up onto the seat and curled up with his head on the cushioned center console.
Snape fumed silently as he put on his own seatbelt. He was certain he would strangle the brat before they ever reached Wales. Thankfully Barclay seemed to be in a rather chipper mood, seemingly enjoying the opportunity to take his car out for a little road trip.
Master Barclay pulled onto the street and they made their way out of London, thankfully still early enough to avoid any major traffic.
Everyone remained silent for the first half an hour. Harry rested quietly in the backseat, dozing off comfortably as he stretched along the seats. Snape sat rigidly in the passenger seat with his arms folded across his middle, staring out the front window with his jaw tightly clenched. As they got on the M4, Barclay was beginning to get restless with all the quiet.
"Do you mind if I put on the radio, Severus?" Barclay asked, smiling at the brooding wizard to his left.
"By all means," Snape replied, gesturing to the sound deck. He glanced back over his right shoulder to check on Harry, relieved to see him asleep.
Barclay fiddled with the buttons, cycling through several radio stations before finding something he liked. He settled on a BBC 4 radio program talking about the rise of HIV/AIDS amongst youth communities in Scotland.
It was hardly uplifting commentary, but at least it broke the silence. They continued on for another forty-five minutes before Harry's voice floated up from the backseat.
"Um, Master Barclay, can we stop soon? I need to go to the loo." Harry sat up and rubbed his eyes under his glasses.
Snape jerked around and snapped at him. "I told you to go before we left."
"I did! It's been hours!" Harry whined loudly. He scowled at Snape.
Barclay reached out and patted Snape on the leg. "Relax, Severus. It's probably good if we all stop and stretch our legs. I could use a cup of coffee anyway." Master Barclay looked up at Harry in the rearview mirror. "Can you wait a few minutes, Mr. Potter? I think there's a service station coming up shortly."
"Yes, sir." As soon as Barclay looked away from the mirror, Harry stuck his tongue out at the back of Snape's head, hoping no one could see him.
Ten minutes later, they pulled into a large service area. Barclay decided to fill-up the car while Harry and Snape went inside to use the washroom and buy snacks.
Snape got himself and Master Barclay a coffee while Harry went to the loo. When he came out, he wandered down the aisles looking at all of the crisps and candy.
"Can I get something to eat?" Harry asked Snape.
"No, we'll stop for lunch in a few hours."
"But what if I'm hungry before then? Please?" Harry pleaded with his best puppy dog face.
Snape was unmoved. "I said no. I don't want you hopped up on this processed rubbish. You'll survive."
Just then Master Barclay strolled in, rubbing his hands together as he made his way toward Snape and Harry. Snape handed him a coffee. Barclay took it and smiled. "Perfect, thank you Severus."
Master Barclay took a sip and then looked over at Harry. "Do you want to pick out a snack, Mr. Potter?"
Once again, Harry paused to smirk at Snape before looking back at Barclay, "Yes sir, that would be great. Can I get anything?"
"Of course, just try to pick something that won't leave crumbs in the backseat."
Snape was ready to explode. He didn't want to speak against Master Barclay but he hated being undermined. His cold eyes found Harry and he added "Absolutely no candy. Try to pick something healthy."
Harry paced down the aisles looking for a snack that Snape would approve of. As soon as Master Barclay wandered out of view, Snape pulled Harry aside and growled at him. "You better straighten up, Potter. If I see another one of your impertinent looks, you'll be sitting on a smarting backside all the way to Wales."
Harry jerked himself away and glared back at Snape with indignation. "I didn't even do anything! Jeez, why do you always have to be in such a bad mood all the time." Harry scowled and turned back to look at the snack mixes.
Snape grabbed Harry's arm and pulled him close, whispering harshly. "Do NOT get an attitude with me. You're on very thin ice, Potter. This is your last warning" He let the boy go, willing himself not to make a scene.
Now Harry was in a bad mood. He hated getting yelled at when he hadn't done anything. He picked up a packet of trail mix and walked up to the front where Mr. Barclay was waiting, browsing Muggle magazines.
Snape followed behind. When he got near the register, he held out his hand and Harry gave him the trail mix, putting it in his hand with just enough force to let the man know he was not happy, but not enough to arouse his ire. Snape ignored him and put everything on the counter to pay. He threw in a pack of white tic-tacs for himself. He hated coffee breath.
They piled back in the car and got on their way. Five minutes later, Harry was bored. He hated the talk radio. "Can we put on some music instead? This is kind of boring"
Snape closed his eyes and cringed to himself. He definitely wasn't going to survive the rest of this trip.
"Of course, Mr. Potter. Do you have any preferences?" Master Barclay replied kindly. He didn't mind music, anything was better than driving in silence.
"Um, anything really. Not classical. Maybe BBC One?"
Barclay pushed around on the buttons until they settled on some pop music. "Is this OK?"
"Yes, sir, this is great." Harry smiled. He was glad Master Barclay was being so nice to him. If only Snape could take a page out of his book.
Over the next half hour, Harry sat quietly and looked out the window, humming along to some of the music. But soon he was bored again.
"Want to play a game?" Harry said out loud to no one in particular. "We could play 'I Spy' or we could play a game where we try to find all of the letters from the alphabet on license plates."
Snape swiveled around in his seat and looked at Harry. "If you're bored, you can read a book or play a game silently to yourself. Do not distract Master Barclay while he's driving."
"I don't like reading in the car, it makes me carsick." He kicked his foot absent-midedly against Snape's seat. "Why do you have to be such a git?"
Snape had tried to control himself, but he finally snapped. He reached back and gave Harry a hard smack on the side of his thigh. His eyes flashed with anger as he pointed a finger in his face. "Enough. Sit quietly. I don't want to hear another word out of you." He gave Harry a stern look before turning back around in his seat and reaching up to pinch the bridge of his nose.
Harry got real quiet. He brought his feet up on the seat and hugged his knees, rubbing his leg where Snape had smacked him. As he stared out the window, tears welled up in his eyes but he was too angry to allow them to fall.
In the front seat, Barclay turned to Snape, giving him a disapproving look. "Take a breath, Severus, get your emotions under control."
"He knows better than to give me cheek, I've given him several warnings." Snape let out an exasperated sigh. He hated riding in the car. Being stuck in the car with his judgey mentor and his impulsive ward was an absolute nightmare.
Another hour of awkward silence went by before Harry spoke up again. "Can I have my snack mix, please?" He was clearly still upset, making a vague attempt to sound polite despite the frustration evident in his voice.
"You may." Snape reached down and pulled it out of a plastic bag at his feet. He turned around to hand it to Harry. "Don't spill anything."
Harry ignored him and took the package out of his hand without looking at him. He then opened the packet, picking out the small M&Ms inside the trail mix and popping them into his mouth. Idiot. Didn't even realize there was candy in here. He smiled to himself for the small act of subterfuge.
As they crossed into Wales, Master Barclay turned down the radio and spoke up. "I suppose I should give you both the backstory we're working with. Severus, you're a cousin of Master Llewlyn, and for the purpose of your time there your name will be Mr. Elliot Prince. You are a teacher at a boy's prep, but you've taken leave to care for your son, Harry, who has been ill for the past few months. He has recovered now, but you are taking him to the countryside to finish his convalescence while he regains his strength."
"So my name is still Harry?" Harry perked up in the backseat and smiled, popping a green M&M into his mouth.
Barclay glanced at him in the mirror. "I figured that would be easier for both of you. You shouldn't need to use these names often, but if you do go out into town, you may need to introduce yourselves. It's quite a small village, people will notice you there."
Harry was kind of into the idea of having a secret identity. "So, what's my backstory then? Is Snape my real dad? What happened to my mom?"
"Professor Snape, Mr. Potter. Mind your manners, please. But yes, for the purpose of your time there, Professor Snape will be your real father. I didn't really come up with a story about your mother."
Harry pushed himself further up in his seat and strained forward against his seatbelt, leaning between the two front seats. "So maybe I can make it up...Oh, I know! When I was little my father was such a mean and horrible person that my mother couldn't take it anymore, and she ran away. She tried desperately to take me with her, but my evil father wouldn't allow it, and then she went mad, and was never heard from again."
Harry laughed to himself, quite amused with the story he'd come up with. Snape turned to him and arched a brow.
"Very clever, Mr. Potter. That was the story we told you, not wanting to crush your delicate spirit. But in reality you were such a horrid little brat, constantly throwing tantrums and whining and refusing to do as you were told, that your poor mother couldn't take it anymore. Loving her as I did, I told her that she should go off and be happy, and that I would suffer the insupportable torture of raising you until you became of age."
Now it was Snape's turn to smirk. Harry sat back against the leather seat, defeated.
"Fine, then I guess she died."
Snape's voice rose up from the front seat. "Tsk tsk tsk. Killing off your poor imaginary mother without a second thought, how very cruel of you, Potter." Snape responded with snark.
Barclay jumped in, hoping to lighten the mood. "Or maybe she just couldn't take time away from her job, and she's working back in London, hoping that you two would enjoy a few weeks of father-son bonding time."
Harry squinted his eyes and threw a snide look at Snape. "Yeah, I guess that could work too. Although who would ever want to be married to Snape. He's mean and greasy and everyone hates him. It's way more believable that she ran off and went mental or maybe even threw herself off a bridge." Harry said, with more than a hint of genuine bitterness in his tone.
Master Barclay's face fell immediately and his gentle smile disappeared. He turned around and gave Harry a stern look. "Mr. Potter, that's quite enough. I will not tolerate that kind of disrespect of Professor Snape. Please apologize to him, and address him properly."
Barclay kept his voice even, but Harry knew he'd crossed a line. It was the first time the older wizard had ever truly scolded him. He felt bad that he'd upset the man, but not bad at all that he'd disrespected Snape. Snape deserved it, he'd been scowling and snapping since they left this morning.
"I'm not apologizing to him, he's been a complete prat all morning," Harry mumbled angrily to himself, although in the silence of the car, everyone heard him quite clearly.
Harry leaned back and sat in quiet defiance, refusing to apologize.
Barclay looked over at Snape with a look of shock. Snape, somewhat humiliated, was filled with silent rage. He snapped his head around and glared at the boy with daggers in his eyes. He couldn't believe Harry would speak to him that way, especially in front of Master Barclay. Attempting to save face and keep himself in control in front of his mentor, he took a breath and gave Harry another chance to apologize, hoping he'd take it.
"What was that, Mr. Potter? Was there something you'd like to say?" He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to keep his temper in check.
"Not anything you want to hear," Harry sassed, crossing his arms and staring out the window.
"Very well, then, we will revisit this later." Snape responded evenly, with an icy edge in his voice that Harry recognized as a promise of impending doom.
You could cut the tension in the car with a knife. Master Barclay was truly shocked at Harry's behavior, but he didn't want to overstep his role. This was something Snape would need to sort out, and not while they were zooming down the M4 at 70mph.
The uncomfortable silence continued for several more minutes before Master Barclay spoke up. "We should probably stop for an early lunch soon. Keep an eye out for anything that looks interesting, I'd prefer if we didn't have to eat fast food."
As they got off the M4 and drove through the backroads, they saw a sign for an adorable little village restaurant and pub. It was still quite early for lunch, but Barclay pulled off the road and hoped for the best. He parked the car on an empty gravel drive on the side of the pub and stepped out of the car, giving himself a quick stretch.
Harry opened the car door and got out as soon as the engine turned off, walking briskly toward the restaurant.
Snape grabbed the back of Harry's shirt as he fled past him. "Not so fast, Mr. Potter." He glanced over at Barclay before returning his attention to Harry, "Please go ahead, Master Barclay, I just need a moment to speak to my ward. We will join you shortly."
"Of course, Severus," he nodded and walked ahead, leaving the two outside.
The blood drained from Harry's face, he knew he was in trouble now.
Snape let go of Harry's shirt and walked back to the car, opening the door to the backseat without a word. He sat down with his feet outside on the gravel and crooked his finger. "Come here, Potter."
"What? Why?" Harry started to panic. He froze to the spot where he was standing.
Snape attempted to keep his voice low, but it was still dripping in anger. "To me. Now. I warned you, but you decided to act up and embarrass me anyway, so let's get this over with."
Harry looked incredulous. "No! This isn't fair!"
Snape tilted his face slightly and raised his eyebrows in disbelief. "You made your choices, Potter, and now you will suffer the consequences. If I have to come and get you, I promise you will regret it. Come here. Right. Now."
Harry knew it was futile to fight with the man. He also knew he'd more than crossed the line, even if it had felt justified at the time. He didn't want to anger him further. He looked around, grateful that the street and parking lot were completely empty.
He slowly shuffled toward Snape. As soon as he got close enough, Snape's hand reached out and grabbed his arm, pulling Harry within inches of his face. "You've been a petulant little brat all morning. I gave you several chances to behave but you decided to keep pushing me. So much so that Master Barclay had to say something to you, at which point you had the gall to defy and disrespect him as well. Unacceptable, Mr. Potter. Un...acceptable." He shook his head with disappointment.
Harry dropped his head and mumbled,"Sorry."
Without fanfare or further discussion, Snape pulled Harry over his left knee, bringing half of his body inside the car, and leaving his legs dangling outside. Snape didn't waste any time and brought his hand down several times quickly on Harry's backside. After about ten solid smacks, he pulled Harry up, stood up and closed the car door behind him. "Let's go."
The whole thing had lasted less than 10 seconds. Compared to his last spanking, it was extremely short and to the point. Harry was more than surprised to find himself upright so quickly. His bum was throbbing, and he had tears to his eyes, but he hadn't even had time to process what was happening before it was over. He looked at Snape somewhat confused. Is that it?
Snape bent down and looked in Harry's eyes. "That's your last reminder, Potter. Don't you ever disrespect me like that again, EVER. Especially in front of Master Barclay. I can promise you if there is one more cheeky reply, wayward look, or disrespectful tone, I don't care where we are or who is there, I will take down your trousers and give you a proper spanking." He stood up and put a hand on Harry's back, pushing him toward the pub. "Now, let's go inside and try to have a nice lunch and you can apologize to Master Barclay."
Harry was still in a state of shock, he had expected a lot worse. He had no doubts the man would follow through on his threat, so he just nodded his head and followed Snape into the restaurant. He slid into the booth across from Master Barclay, determined to be on his best behavior.
Snape sat down next to Harry. Master Barclay smiled and passed the menus across the table, searching their faces for a clue as to what had happened. Snape's face was neutral, but much more relaxed, and Harry, while subdued, didn't look particularly distraught. Barclay was pleased that the situation had been managed with what appeared to be little drama.
They perused the menu for a few moments before Snape casually cleared his throat. Harry looked briefly at him before turning back to Master Barclay. "I'm sorry for being disrespectful in the car, Master Barclay. It won't happen again." His face turned red as he spoke and soon his eyes dropped back down to the menu, too embarrassed to keep eye-contact.
"I appreciate your apology, Mr. Potter. Let's just enjoy lunch, now, shall we? The food looks delicious." He gave Harry a reassuring smile.
Snape was relieved that Barclay hadn't made a big issue out of things in front of Harry, although he was sure he'd hear about it later when they were alone. He hadn't wanted to punish Harry during the trip, but he didn't want things to escalate. Being cheeky with him was one thing, but repeatedly disrespecting him and defying Master Barclay was quite another. He knew he couldn't just let that go, it would send the wrong message to both of them. He had gone fairly easy on the boy, but he just hoped that that little smacking had been enough to grab his attention and change his attitude. He just wanted to get through this dreadful trip with everyone in one piece.
After the food arrived, Harry was in a pretty good mood, and Snape began to let his guard down and enjoy some light conversation and a bit of banter. After a round of tea and a final visit to the loo, everyone piled back in the car in a much better mood.
The last hour and a half went by peacefully. Snape relaxed a bit and Harry sat quietly in the backseat, enjoying the sights of the Welsh countryside. Master Barclay occasionally pointed out interesting landmarks or historical facts, and they all arrived at the cottage in one piece. Miraculously.
By the looks of the rolling hills and farms, they were clearly way out in the countryside. They would be staying in a village on the outskirts of Cardigan, a quaint little town on the West coast of Wales. Harry pressed his face to the glass as they took a right onto an empty country road, and then turned down a long gravel drive.
The cottage was bigger than Harry expected, but it looked quite old. It had a thatched roof and some of the wooden shutters looked quite well-worn. There were beautiful gardens on all sides of the cottage, and overall it appeared well taken care of despite its age.
Barclay parked the car in front of a small garage and walked to the door. He lifted up a potted plant to the left of the doorway and found a small key. He reached down to pick it up and inserted it into the lock. The key stuck, and it took a few times of pulling it in and out and jiggling it before he could turn it, but finally he opened the door.
"Or you could just use your wand" Harry said sarcastically under his breath. Barclay hadn't heard him, but Snape smacked him on the back of his head and gave him a warning look. Harry stifled a small laugh.
As if on cue, Barclay turned around and said "You're living as muggles here, gentlemen. So, no unnecessary magic. We're trying to keep a very low profile."
He opened the door and the three of them walked through and made their way into the parlor. The furniture was worn and somewhat mismatched. The walls were covered with a fabric wallpaper that was peeling and faded in many places. It couldn't be described as pretty, but it was charming in its own way. It certainly had personality.
Harry plopped down on a beige and maroon striped couch. "I guess this is home, sweet, home now." He looked at an old cuckoo clock on the wall, it was barely noon.
Barclay and Snape walked through the parlor to investigate the rest of the house. There were three bedrooms and an adorable kitchen with vintage looking olive green appliances. The kitchen opened up into a back garden that Snape was eager to explore. He knew that Master Llewelyn grew many exotic ingredients and he was looking forward to seeing what all he had on the property.
"There's a potion's lab, but it's quite hidden," Master Barclay remarked. "Master Llewelyn gave me the instructions, let's see if we can get it to open."
He pulled out a piece of parchment he had folded into his pocket. Walking over to a bookcase in the parlor, he said an incantation and tapped one of the books on the third shelf with his wand. Suddenly, the bookcase swung open and a secret passageway opened revealing a spiral staircase going down into a cellar.
"Aha, I think we have it. Would you like to accompany me, Severus?" Barclay looked up at Snape, clearly quite pleased with himself.
Snape was pretty impressed. As someone who enjoyed his privacy, he appreciated that Master Llewelyn had gone through the trouble of not only building his personal potion's lab, but hiding it away in such a clever manner. He was certainly interested to see what all he had, hoping he'd get plenty of time there to brew.
Barclay and Snape made their way down the winding stairway into what turned out to be a pretty enormous potions lab. He had an entire area of the lab where he kept his potions ingredients and an area for preparation. There was a small offshoot that extended underneath the back garden and contained an aerial greenhouse. Natural light poured in from the glass of the extension.
"How very clever and well-designed," Snape said as he wandered through the lab, looking up at the plants growing on the ceiling of the greenhouse. It was a beautiful lab with plenty of space to brew and prepare ingredients.
In addition to the greenhouse extension, there was another small room that was clearly used as a study. Despite being underground, it was not dreary or dark, Master Llewelyn had cut sky-lights allowing for enough natural light to keep it airy. It was quite the opposite of Snape's dungeons, but he couldn't help but feel slightly jealous. Master Llewelyn had clearly put a lot of time and effort into building his sanctuary and workspace.
"This is quite a lovely space," said Barclay, looking around and nodding to himself. "I hope you and Mr. Potter will be able to do some good work while you're here."
"Without a doubt. I could happily spend my entire day down here brewing," Snape remarked.
Just then, Harry poked his head down the stairs, wondering what everyone was getting up to. He looked at Snape before he continued down the spiral stairs.
"You may enter, Potter," Snape said, nodding at Harry to come down.
Harry came bounding down the rest of the stairs. He looked around and ran his hands across one of the benches. "This is wicked!"
"We'll spend plenty of time here from tomorrow, for now let's go back upstairs and get settled. I want you to take a rest for a bit and then you can work on some lessons." Snape looked at Harry and gestured to the stairway, motioning his hand upwards. "Come on, let's go."
Harry wandered toward the back of the lab to get a better look at the aerial greenhouse. He was just putting his hand on the door when he heard Snape shout.
"Potter, don't!" Snape's voice came out rather loud and urgent. "We have no idea what plants he is growing in there, it isn't safe to just walk in like that. Come on, back to the parlor."
Snape walked over and put his hands behind Harry's shoulders, guiding him back toward the stairs. "Honestly, Potter, you're worse than a toddler. You should know better than to go off exploring a greenhouse filled with potion's ingredients. Clearly I need to spend more time reviewing safety protocols."
He gave Harry a stern look and ushered him up the stairs. Realizing Barclay was nowhere in sight, Snape looked around briefly to locate his mentor.
Barclay had gone inside Llewelyn's study, looking for anything interesting on his desk much in the way a guest might browse through the medicine cabinet while visiting a friend's house. He wasn't snooping, per se, but he was curious about what Master Llewelyn might be working on. Not finding anything particularly intriguing, he made his way back to the main lab.
"Shall we have a cup of tea and unwind?" Snape asked him, waiting at the bottom of the stairs.
"Yes, of course." Barclay took the hint and followed behind them, the three of them making their way up the stairs.
When Snape reached the parlor, Harry had already situated himself back on the couch.
"Did you hear me, Potter? I want to get you settled into your room so you can rest for a little while before doing some studying," Snape said, crossing his arms and staring at Harry.
"I can rest here just fine."
"No, you may not. You were up incredibly early this morning and I want you to take a nap. You can still get in several hours of schoolwork before dinner if you work efficiently, but you need to rest first." Snape's voice was calm but his face and his tone made it clear that he wasn't going to argue about it. "Up you get, Potter."
Harry glanced over at Master Barclay whose back was facing them as he closed the secret passageway and replaced the bookcase. He definitely didn't want to push Snape any more today. "Fine, I'm going. But I still feel like I'm too old for a nap."
"Excuse me?" Snape raised an eyebrow. "Want to try that again? I would hope after our conversation earlier that you might consider your words carefully before you speak again."
Harry's face flushed red. "Yes, sir. I'm going." He dramatically pushed himself off the couch. "How do I know which room is mine?"
Barclay turned around, "The Master bedroom is to the left. There are two smaller rooms to the right, Mr. Potter, choose whichever one you like best." He paused for a moment. "I'll put on the kettle, Severus, why don't you get Harry settled and then we can talk over tea."
Snape went over to his duffle bag and pulled out Harry's shrunken trunk, putting it in his hand and following behind Harry.
Both rooms were practically identical, but Harry chose the one that looked out onto the backyard. It had an old iron bed frame with a double bed, a small nightstand, and a wardrobe. Snape would need to transfigure him a desk.
Harry jumped on the bed and the springs creaked loudly. It wasn't the most comfortable bed he'd ever slept in, but it wasn't terrible.
Snape set the boy's trunk down on the ground before enlarging it with his wand. He looked up at Harry. "It's been a long journey and an excruciatingly long day. I want you to try to sleep, then I will come and get you and you can do some schoolwork. I don't want to hear a peep out of you, do you understand? We'll talk about your abysmal behavior in the car after Master Barclay leaves." Snape narrowed his eyes slightly, driving home his earlier displeasure.
"I don't need a nap, I'm not a baby," Harry replied, careful to keep his tone light, still afraid that Snape might decide to follow through with his promise of a "proper punishment" if he heard the least bit of sass.
"You may sleep or not sleep, but you will stay in your room, on your bed and rest quietly for at least the next hour. It's up to you, but I don't want to hear any complaints about you being too tired to complete your work later. I can assure you that any whining after the fact will not be received well." He cocked an eyebrow for effect.
"Yes, sir." Harry kicked off his trainers and curled up on top of the bed. As much as he hated to admit it, he was feeling pretty exhausted.
"I mean it, Potter. I don't want to see or hear from you for the next hour. I will come and get you when it's time to do your work. Now get some rest." Snape flicked his wand and darkened the window that looked out on the backyard, dimming the light in the room considerably. He walked out and closed the door quietly behind him.
Harry attempted to keep his eyes open, but within five minutes he was off to sleep.
Snape returned to the parlor. If he was honest with himself, he would kill for a nap right now, but with his chronic sleep issues, he generally tried to avoid sleeping during the day. Not to mention, he was sure Master Barclay would want to talk for a bit before he got on the road.
He sat on one of the mismatched armchairs. It was shorter and uglier than his chair at home, but he preferred it to sitting on a couch where he might be forced to share his personal space.
Master Barclay continued to tinker around in the kitchen as he prepared their tea. "It looks like Master Llewelyn left a lot of the non-perishables, but you'll need to do some shopping, Severus, so you and Harry can prepare your meals." He opened up some of the cabinets, revealing cans of beans and veggies, some pasta, rice, and a jar of tomato sauce.
Dammit Snape thought to himself. He forgot they were going to be living as Muggles, he was going to actually have to prepare meals for the next few weeks. He was already missing Hogwarts desperately. At his own home at Spinner's end, he had a house elf, but here he would be completely on his own when it came to cooking and cleaning.
"Did you get Harry settled in?" Barclay asked as he carried in two cups of tea. He handed Snape a mug with a colorful alpaca on it before settling himself down on the couch.
Snape rolled his eyes at the kitchy mug before taking a sip. "Hopefully he'll sleep for a bit. He's so tragically behind in his coursework, he can't afford to miss a single day." He crossed his legs and held his mug with both hands.
"He'll catch up, it's important just to stay consistent with him, Severus. I don't think the boy has had much stability or structure in his life. Just giving him that will be an enormous gift."
They sat quietly for a moment before Barclay spoke up again. "I know your job is a difficult one. To be both a parent and a teacher to him is a challenge. You must find a way to separate them out so that Harry knows what to expect from you. It's normal for him to push boundaries, he's trying to see for himself if you'll remain consistent."
Snape nodded in agreement. "I'm doing my best. I've tried to set clear rules and expectations, but he still seems intent on pushing me. It's rather infuriating."
"I'm sure it is. But you need to stay in control of your emotions, Severus. You can still maintain firm boundaries without losing your temper at him. It will be important for you to give him care and affection as well. He can't only see you as a disciplinarian or he'll become resentful."
Barclay looked at Snape, but he was staring off in the distance, deep in thought. "I'm trying."
"Well, you need to continue to make an effort. This time here will be good for both of you. You'll go shopping and cook food together and you'll get to play happy little family. You should make time to do fun things with him as well. Take him on walks, go outside and play with him. Give him space to be a boy. I'm sure it's been oppressive for him to be locked up with nothing but studying and rules all day. I understand why he's feeling the need to act out."
Snape repositioned himself in the chair, turning toward Master Barclay before running his fingers through his hair and letting out a deep sigh. "I think he needs more than I can give him. I'm not sure I'm cut out for this."
Barclay put his mug down rather loudly. "Nonsense, Severus. Absolute rubbish. You need to get it together. You are more than capable of doing this, and you owe him your best effort. The boy needs you, desperately." Barclay gave him a hard pat on his knee. "Self-pity doesn't look good on you. Buck up, boyo, you've got work to do."
These words hit Snape like a bucket of ice water in his face. He was not a person who let himself indulge in self-pity, nor did he show his vulnerabilities to others. He steeled himself and sat up straight. "You're right. My apologies."
"You can do this, I have absolute faith in you, Severus." Barclay smiled at him before letting out a small chuckle. "That boy certainly knows how to push your buttons. I thought your head was going to explode in the car today."
Snape narrowed his eyes and looked right at his mentor. "That's not funny at all. He's lucky I didn't skin him alive. If he ever pulls that again, he won't sit til he's of age."
"Yes, well, let's all hope he's learned his lesson then. He's going to push you, Severus, it's normal. That said, it's best to nip that kind of behavior in the bud. You know how I feel about manners and respect."
"I do. Believe me, if he learns nothing else from me, he'll learn to comport himself like a gentleman." Snape tapped his fingers on his mug and exhaled loudly.
"I have no doubt he will. Just remember he's still a 12 year-old boy, give him space to let loose sometimes. It will make it easier for him to behave when it's necessary." Barclay's face was reassuring.
Snape put his mug on the table and leaned back in his chair. "I guess I'll have to put wards up outside so he can fly. So much for keeping a low profile."
Master Barclay stood up and walked toward the backdoor, pulling a sheer curtain aside and looking out the window. "I think you'll be fine, there's plenty of space. The next cottage isn't for another mile or so."
He walked back to Snape and put a hand on his shoulder. "You're going to do well, Severus. Enjoy your time here. Get out and do things with the lad, bond with him. Have some fun." He gave him a few pats. "Now I should be heading back."
Snape felt better after his little talk with Barclay. He would never admit it, but he needed a bit of reassurance. He stood up to walk the man out. "Thank you, Master Barclay. I really appreciate all of your help arranging this and getting us here. I give you my word that we will make the most of our time here."
"I'll be in touch with you as soon as I know what's going on. If you need anything, anything at all, please reach out Severus. I want to support you as much as I can." Barclay walked toward the door. "By the way, Master Llewelyn has a car you can use to go into town. You do know how to drive, don't you?"
Snape raised an eyebrow. "Theoretically. I've done it before, but I wouldn't say I'm...proficient." The truth was that he hated cars. He'd driven one a few times in the summer after his last year of Hogwarts, but other than that, it had been at least ten years since he'd driven. He was not a fan of Muggle transport. At all.
"Well, I'm sure you'll figure it out. You're a resourceful man, Severus. Take care of yourself." Barclay clapped him on the back before going out the door.
Snape stood in the doorway and watched until he saw Barclay's car pull away. He closed the door and locked it with a key, something he hadn't done in ages. Returning to his dumpy little armchair, he sat down to make a plan for the rest of the day, but despite his best efforts to fight it, he closed his eyes. Within seconds, he was fast asleep, his mouth falling slightly open as he drifted off.
Author's End Note:
PLEASE REVIEW!
Your reviews are my life blood! I LOVE hearing from all of you. So please let me know what you're enjoying, what you're thinking, or anything really.
Can Snape and Harry play happy little country family? Lots of things up in the air at the moment, but hopefully they will get in some good bonding time and they can finally relax a little and have some fun. Hopefully.