Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters and most of the settings in this story. The honour belongs solely to JK Rowling. I suspect that I do not even own half of the plot, as this has been influenced by the numerous fanfics I've read.
Author's Note: Thankyou all for the reviews. I love all the encouragement and the constructive criticism I am getting and believe me when I say that I am taking note of all your good advice. I honestly believe I will become a better writer because of it which is what I am aiming for.
A couple of comments (not as long as last time!): About my disclaimer, this fic was influenced by all the Snape Meets the Dursleys stories I've read, but either the Dursleys become horrific or Snape suddenly turns nice to Harry which is fine, this is fanfic and anything goes, but I've never seen a story where Snape is ever civil to the Dursleys. Don't get me wrong, I don't believe Snape would even have the remotest of fond feelings for the Dursleys, but he may play along if it suited him. Anyway, I have plenty of ideas, but they are all influenced by other fanfics, just with a different twist.
As for the cliff-hanger's, yeah I like them. It encourages people to read the next chapter!
By the way, the sender of the book won't be revealed until the last chapter (Chapter 13), but there is a clue in Chapter 11.
Oh, and Mark Evans and the new DADA professor will be mentioned again in this story but extensively explored in the sequel, if people want one. (Of course the focus will be on Harry)
I appreciate the comments that so many feel that the characters are In Character. I'm certainly trying. I personally believe that Dumbledore was very OOC to begin with as he would never ask Snape to do this but it was the premise for the entire story so it had to happen. I fear that Harry may be OOC in this chapter but oh well. I'll bring him back next chapter.
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Chapter 9: Dinner at the Dursleys
Harry sat nervously on the lounge room couch, waiting for Snape to arrive. His Uncle Vernon had forced him to buy a three-piece suit for the occasion, using Harry's 'earnings', so wanting were they to impress Harry's 'boss'. The Dursleys haven't been so frantic at pleasing a house guest since the Mason's. In the past Harry might have been pleased to have been included in such a gathering as he had always been ignored, but since the house guest was Snape, Harry longed for the days where he had to sit in his room pretending he didn't exist.
Being a Saturday Harry didn't have to go to 'work' today, so his Aunt Petunia had given Harry a long list of chores to do to prepare for the evening. He had to mow the lawn, prune the bushes, wash the windows, vacuum the house, scrub the bathroom, most of which Harry had to do twice as Aunt Petunia was not satisfied with the quality of the first effort. Harry was exhausted.
Aunt Petunia rushed in to the lounge room with a comb and bottle of gel. Harry wondered when they would learn that nothing could be done to tame his hair.
"Harry, come here and sit!" Aunt Petunia ordered, pointing to a chair in the kitchen. "Lord knows we have to do something about your uncontrollable mop."
Sighing, Harry got up walked over to the kitchen, and sat down with resignation. Harry felt he might as well get this over and done with.
After about 15 minutes, the doorbell rang. Aunt Petunia put away the comb and scissors, once again resigned to the fact that nothing could be done to tame Harry's unruly hair.
Harry heard Dudley saunter to the front door to answer it. "Good evening Mr Snape," Dudley said, grovelling for all he was worth. "How are you this evening?"
After a brief pause, Harry heard Snape answer, "Very well, Dudley, yourself?"
Harry rolled his eyes. With all Snape's posturing, he wondered what Snape really thought of Dudley.
Dudley led Snape into the lounge room, where Aunt Petunia was offering refreshments.
Harry was still watching the proceedings from the kitchen. He was dreading going into the lounge room, as he knew that it was going to be one long night of insults and criticisms. Resolutely, Harry grabbed a tray of appetisers, and walked into the lounge room.
When Harry entered he thought that Snape was almost glad to see him as Uncle Vernon was in the middle of boring Snape with his favourite Japanese Golfer joke, and Snape's normally sharp eyes were glazing over.
Snape looked up and sneered at Harry. "So nice of you to join us, Mr Potter." All three of the Dursleys looked at Harry with glee at the sound of Snape's voice dripping with sarcasm.
'Dear sweet Merlin,' Harry thought. 'This is going to be hell.'
Attempting a pleasant smile, which in fact looked more like a grimace, Harry presented the tray to Snape. "Appetiser, P… Mr Snape?" Harry almost called Snape, Professor. He knew he had to be more careful, for if Snape's true identity was revealed it would be disastrous for Harry.
Sneering, Snape grabbed the appetiser and said, "You should probably put that tray down, Mr Potter, before your clumsiness causes you to do more damage like when you used acid instead of polish on my silverware and made it turn green."
Dudley chuckled at the insult. Harry blushed. Although Harry was grateful that Snape was covering for him, it was still humiliating. Did he have to take it so far?
Harry sat down on a sofa chair as far away as he could reasonably get, and prepared himself for the hammering. It didn't take long to start.
"I do hope your back is feeling better." Uncle Vernon asked Snape. "It's such a horrible thing to happen, pulling your back muscles doing callisthenics."
Snape turned to Harry with distaste. Harry's heart started to beat fast. He hadn't told Snape about this particular aspect of the cover story, and he could tell Snape wasn't amused.
"Yes, well, it's on the mend now, I assure you." Snape replied shortly.
Harry could see that Uncle Vernon, sensing danger, was trying to find a safer subject to discuss. He evidently decided that the safest topic was 'Potter bashing', as he asked, "What is it you're getting Harry to do? I do hope your not being too soft on him."
It was clearly the best topic as Snape (in a Snapeish way) smiled. Harry inaudibly groaned and closed his eyes. He could imagine the types of stories that Snape's mind could come up with. "Just yesterday I had Mr Potter decontaminate the fish pond. It hadn't been cleaned for some time, you see, and isn't habitable to fish. It was extremely slimy. Potter had to get into the murky water to clean the bottom. He was head to toe in green sludge."
"Wonderful, wonderful. Lord knows something has got to get him in line. St Brutus' is doing everything they can, of course, but there is simply no hope for some."
"Quite true."
So the Dursleys and Snape entered a long and meaningful conversation of all the disgusting and demeaning tasks Harry had to do while working for Snape.
Just as Snape was telling them about how Harry's next task was to clean the septic tank, an owl swooped in from the fireplace (the kitchen window was closed for fear of this event), and dropped a letter in front of Harry. Harry quickly shoved the letter into his pocket.
It was amazing how this simple act affected the Dursleys. Aunt Petunia screamed and clamped her hand to her mouth. Dudley jumped up and coward behind the couch and Uncle Vernon was red with rage. Of course, although they didn't like it, the Dursleys were accustomed to owl post, but having one enter their living room when they were entertaining what they thought was a perfectly normal guest was an absolute atrocity.
Uncle Vernon was beside himself, and he tried to explain why an owl was delivering mail to Harry.
"I am so sorry, Severus. Strange birds, you never know what they're going to do. It's probably been trained by some crackpot."
Snape just sat there, smirking, unaffected by the entire event. However, although he covered it well, Harry could see that Snape was not impressed by a wizard being labelled a 'crackpot'.
Suspicious at Snape's lack of reaction, Uncle Vernon nervously said, "How about dinner then? Petunia?"
"Yes, all ready." Aunt Petunia replied.
"Good. Let's all retire the dining room shall we?" And they all rose from their respective positions (Dudley still cowering behind the couch) and followed Aunt Petunia to the dining room.
The game of tormenting Harry slowed throughout dinner, and Harry was grateful for the break.
"This meal is superb, Petunia," Snape commented. Harry realised that Snape really was capable of civility, at least when there was something in it for him. A brief look from Snape told Harry he needed to control his thoughts. Harry hated legilimency.
"Why, thankyou Severus. That is most kind of you," Aunt Petunia answered.
"You mentioned that you are a teacher, Severus. Where it is that you teach?" Uncle Vernon asked.
Harry was wondering how Snape was going to answer this but as it happened it wasn't necessary, as all hell broke loose.
Just as Snape opened his mouth to answer, another owl entered the Dursleys dining room, this time delivering a letter to Snape.
Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia stared open mouthed at Snape. Snape calmly took the letter and put it in one of his pockets of his jacket. He wasn't going to read it there.
"But … what …" Uncle Vernon stammered, disbelieving, and then stood up and shouted, "YOUR ONE OF THEM …. A FREAK! GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!!"
Snape, completely in control, rose from his chair and looked Uncle Vernon in the eye. Harry knew he should be panicking by now, the game was up. Uncle Vernon was going to find out exactly what has been going on all summer. Harry also knew that, by the evil look in Snape's eyes, that he should really be concerned for Uncle Vernon's safety, but he just couldn't at this point in time summon up the required compassion. He was too intrigued about the imminent showdown between Uncle Vernon and Snape.
Snape may have been in control, but Uncle Vernon was as in control as a Blast-Ended Skrewt. His teeth were bared, his face purple from anger, and the vein in Uncle Vernon's temple was throbbing madly.
"HOW DARE YOU COME INTO MY HOUSE? YOU FREAK! GET OUT I SAID! GET OUT!!!" Uncle Vernon's throat was becoming hoarse from shouting so loudly and he was panting and shaking from the exertion. Harry would be amazed if the neighbours hadn't heard every word.
Snape glared at Uncle Vernon, and slowly paced towards him. Snape was clearly not impressed about being called a freak.
Harry was surprised that Uncle Vernon wasn't cowering in fear at Snape's gaze, as if it had been Harry on the end of Snape's glare, he would have started running by now. Uncle Vernon, however, was too beside himself with anger to care.
Snape spoke very quietly and slowly, but every syllable was pronounced, and his very aura displayed a dark power. "I will gladly leave your detestable premises, Mr Dursley, but if you ever call me a freak again, I will personally see to it that you will not reach your next birthday."
Snape whipped out his wand and pointed it at Dudley. "This hideous son of yours is nothing but a cowardly, grossly obese swine. You should be ashamed of him."
Dudley was frozen solid, clearly terrified. He was watching the sparks fly out of Snape's wand with utmost fear. Aunt Petunia screamed and started to run to Dudley's aid until Snape pointed his wand at her. "Do you truly believe that you could defend your son against me?" More sparks flew out of Snape's wand, and this time the room went very cold, as if a dementor was close by.
In an uncharacteristic display of bravery, Uncle Vernon stood forward to protect his wife and son. Before he could speak, Snape turned on him. "Your sycophantic display is appalling, Mr Dursley. And as much as I enjoy the Potter bashing, I must say that you would have to be the most miserable, self-centred group muggle's I have ever laid eyes on!" The lights began to dim and a slight breeze swept the room, wafting through Snape's hair. Harry was afraid Snape might be angry enough to blow up the house, and he was certain that Snape had the power to do it.
Uncle Vernon visibly cringed. Uncle Vernon had met other grown wizards, of course. Mr Weasley was one, and he recently met Moody and Lupin and the train station, but he had never met anyone like Snape before, and he was clearly petrified.
Harry himself was in shock. He had thought he had seen Snape's dark side, but he now realised that he knew nothing of Snape, and what he was capable of. Despite himself, Harry found himself in awe of his potions master. Snape may work for the side of light, but he was still very much a very dark and powerful wizard. This feeling of awe passed very quickly, however, when Snape turned to Harry.
"I will see you Monday, Potter, for your next lesson." And Snape swept out of the room.
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R&R
Author's Note: I realised on read-though that Harry never actually speaks in this chapter. Interesting. I guess he just wanted to stay in the background and not aggravate anyone with his presence. :)