Note from the author.

I've tried to find out if the amount of money I mention in this chapter would be reasonable, but I couldn't find what the average salary or the price of a movie ticket was in England at the time, so I decided a bit at random. I don't know if what I propose is ridiculously low or too high.

Chapter 5. Job offer.

In the afternoon Snape took paper and two parchments out of a drawer. When he had finished writing he went over to the fireplace, which he activated with a pinch of Floo powder to send one of the parchments up, repeating the procedure with the second one right after. After finishing he went out again to observe what was going on at the Evans' house. He alternated his usual chores with brief visits to the house, and in the evening he saw that Harry did not go up to one of the bedrooms, but threw some cushions on the floor to sleep in the living room. Late in the afternoon he received two replies.

In the morning Snape watched the Evans house for nearly an hour until at last the right situation presented itself. Petunia left the house and headed for the nearest supermarket. Harry was back in the garden, pulling weeds with his bare hands.

Snape had changed his appearance to look like a respectable Muggle. He was wearing a shirt and light pants. He had also modified the appearance of his hair to look shorter. He knocked on the door and Vernon opened it brusquely.

"Good morning, sir. I wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood." Snape said calmly.

Vernon looked him up and down, but didn't seem to find anything really objectionable in his appearance.

"I don't want to buy anything." he said.

"I don't actually sell anything, but I'd be interested in asking you something. You see, I need to move some boxes that are in a corner of the basement. The space available is very small and I usually get help from the Barton's boy, but they're on vacation now. I saw that your son is a hard worker and I wanted to ask him if he would be willing to help me for a while in exchange for a tip.

"He's not my son, he's my nephew, and I'm not going to leave him alone with a stranger."

"If you want you can join me while he works, it won't be long."

"I have better things to do."

"That's a pity, because I was prepared to offer him five pounds."

Vernon looked at him, thinking that if he was willing to let him be there with the boy, surely he meant him no harm.

Snape used his legeremancy to spy on his emotions. His greed was intense.

"I could actually do with his working for me all day. I can give you fifteen pounds, and I'd take care of his lunch and dinner."

"Yes, well." said Vernon without making light of the latter. "All right, but I will accompany you to your house, and I reserve the right to go at any time to see the boy, or to send my wife in my stead, mister..."

"Snape. Pleased to meet you. Of course, you may come whenever you like, the door will not be locked." he said holding out his hand.

"I am Vernon Dursley. Give me the money, the boy would spend it on nonsense" he replied accepting the greeting.

Satisfied with his precautions Vernon took the money Snape offered him and shouted to Harry. "Boy, go with this gentleman to his house and do as he asks."

Harry was very surprised to hear this, because it struck him as odd that he was going to be left alone with a stranger. He wiped his hands on his pants, though with how dirty they were already it didn't make much difference, and walked over to them. Vernon grabbed his arm and pulled him a little away.

"Don't even think of telling him anything about your life, or I'll know and there will be consequences. Speak only when you're asked." he whispered thinking Snape couldn't hear him.

"Yes, Uncle Vernon." said Harry in fright. Then Vernon pushed him toward Snape slyly.

"I'm Mr. Snape, and you are?"

"My name is Harry, sir."

"Very well. Come with me."

Vernon followed them until they reached a somewhat ramshackle house, and when Snape opened the door he stood on the porch.

"Well, I'm going back to the house. Don't forget that we can come over at any time."

"Of course, there won't be any trouble."

Snape headed for the kitchen, followed by Harry. He turned to him. "Harry, go wash your hands and face. The bathroom is upstairs, it's the second door on the left." he said pointing up the stairs. "But first, tell me, have you had breakfast?"

"One toast, sir."

"I see."

Harry went upstairs immediately. Snape heard the water running. As he grabbed some milk he had bought the day before and began to cook some toast and an egg with a slice of ham.

Harry came down and stood a couple of feet away from him. "I can cook you breakfast, sir." he said.

"I've already had breakfast. This is for you." Snape replied.

The boy was so astonished that he didn't know what to answer.

"Sit at the table."

Harry sat down at one end of the chair, nervous about behaving differently than he did at the Dursleys', where he ate breakfast standing in front of the counter. Snape served him a not very large portion, which Harry looked at with wide eyes.

"Go ahead."

Harry began to eat hurriedly.

"Not so fast, you'll choke. When someone cooks for you it's polite to appreciate the food by eating it slower."

Harry nodded, surprised at what he heard, and began to eat more slowly.

"That's it, that's better." Snape said.

Harry finished everything on his plate, with a sigh of satisfaction, and Snape set a glass of milk in front of him, which Harry drank without asking any more questions. When he was finished he picked up everything he had used and took it to the sink, where he fetched a scouring pad to clean it. Snape thought it was reasonable and let him do it. Harry cleaned it all scrupulously, rinsed it and put it in a dish drainer. Snape could tell he'd done it hundreds of times.

"Good. Now that you're done I have a task for you. Come with me." Snape headed for the staircase and went up to the second floor. He entered a small room and pointed to a box.

"There are some books in there. I want you to pick one out and read it."

"You want me to read a book while I'm here?"

"That's what I said. Then I'll ask you what you've read."

Harry looked at him as if he were a creature from another planet, but nodded and headed for the box. Snape went downstairs and sent over the Floo network two messages he had prepared in advance, then sat down to continue reading the book he had half-finished. The day had only just begun.