Hi again. Here is another chapter. I sure hope this story isn't
disappointing. It seems that a lot of people like Adjustment and I can only
hope that this one will be enjoyed just as much.
Thank you goes to Corgi for being nice enough to beta read for me until Saavik comes back ( Oh and before I forget..I DON'T OWN THEM!!
..................................
Harry stretched comfortably in bed not yet willing to open his eyes. He felt comfortable and content and was not ready to face a new day. However, he knew that he could not remain in bed forever and slowly opened his eyes. As he sat up and sleepily rubbed his eyes, the events of the night before slowly seeped into his mind. He looked around with wide eyes when he remembered just where he was.
He surveyed the room and was surprised at what he found. He had always thought that the private chambers of his potion master would either be in Slytherin colors since Professor Snape was the head of Slytherin or dark to match the man's personality. Instead what he found was a bright, comfortable room in pleasant earth tones.
Harry swung his head to face the table where he ate his supper last night when he heard a deep throated chuckle. "I am afraid the color scheme was the headmaster's idea. He got tired of me living in, what he referred to as, a depressing and dreary room." The older wizard said waving his hand to indicate the room they were in.
Snape got up and started walking over to the bed. He narrowed his eyes as he noticed that the boy slowly shrank into himself. With a deep sigh, he slowed his pace and made it clear that he had no intention of hurting the child. During his slow approach towards the bed, he took the opportunity to assess the boy. Harry was dressed in shabby clothes that were many sizes too big for him and he still had smudges of dirt on his face from his ordeal the night before. "I think that the first order of business is for you to get a bath. While you are busy getting clean, I will call a house elf to bring you some lunch."
Harry hesitated. He was a little unsure of spending so much time in this professor's presence. "I can go back to the common room and shower there." He started to say until he remembered that he was thought to be dead. His face reddened in embarrassment. "Yes sir, a bath would be nice. But I am not hungry." At the look that was being leveled at him, he remembered the threat from last night. He relented with a touch of annoyance in his voice. "I guess I can eat a little bit. Wait, lunch, what happened to breakfast?" He asked in surprise.
"You slept through breakfast. It is now almost twelve thirty." He informed the boy in amusement.
"Twelve thirty! Wow, I don't remember ever sleeping that late. Not even on weekends." Harry responded while getting up out of bed. "Um, sir? Where is the bath?" Harry questioned, his cheeks reddening even more. "And what am I to do about clean clothes?" He questioned, while looking down, taking in the muddy state his present clothes were in.
"Go down the hallway and it is the first door on the right. I guess I will just have to lend you some of my clothes until someone can take you to Diagon Alley. Although you seem to prefer your clothes a bit on the baggy side, I am afraid mine would be way too long for you. Therefore, I will spell them to fit." He told the boy, unable to keep the accustomed sarcasm from his voice.
Harry bristled a little at the tone. "I can not help that my cousin is a whale, and his clothes were the only ones my Aunt would give me!" He shouted. "And you try living in a cupboard for eleven years and see how tall you would be!" He retorted to the obvious dig abut his short stature.
Snape bit the inside of his cheek to keep himself from speaking the biting comments that were ready to spill out. "I am sorry." He said through gritted teeth, unaccustomed to apologizing.
Harry was caught of guard by the unexpected apology. Although he could tell it took a lot for his professor to say it, he never expected to hear those words come from this man's mouth. Still feeling a little resentment over the man's earlier attitude he felt brave enough to ask the question that had bothered him for the last three years. "Sir, why do you hate me so much?"
The potion master was a little taken back by the question. He had never expected the boy to be so forward. Deciding to answer honestly, he replied "I don't hate you."
Harry just looked at the older man in confusion for a few moments. "You could have fooled me over the years. Sorry sir, but I am not used to people who don't hate me to constantly insult me." He replied with a little of the hurt and anger bleeding into his voice.
Snape decided to ignore the attitude and took a deep, calming breath to keep his temper in check. "I admit, I thought I hated you. It was really your father that I hated. Plus I had assumed over the years that as the 'boy who lived' that you were spoiled at home. I had assumed that you were just as arrogant and self absorbed as your father was. I realize now that I was wrong."
Harry took a few moments to turn the man's words over in his head. "I suppose I can understand. The only thing anyone has ever seen was the boy who lived. Why should I expect anything different from you?" He said with a touch of bitterness.
"Harry, look at me." He waited until the boy's eyes met his own. "Not everyone only sees the boy who lives. There are those that care for you. Your friends care deeply for you. The Headmaster, Hagrid, and even Minerva love you. I know the world expects a lot from you, but you must not lose sight of the fact that there are those that care for Harry the boy, not Harry the savior."
A tear slowly made its way down Harry's cheek. He quickly brushed it away. "Thank you sir, I know that must have been hard for you to say, and I do appreciate it." Uncomfortable in the sudden silence he decided to change the subject. "I am ready for that bath now."
Snape sighed in relief. He was not used to being so open, especially with the boy he had thought that he hated. "Fine, go ahead and I will bring you some clothes." Harry walked toward the hallway and turned to face the professor. He gave a hesitant smile and then disappeared around the corner. When he opened the door he was surprised to see the huge bath that took up most of the room. It was the size of small pool. Now completely excited for his bath, he quickly stripped out of the hated clothes and jumped in. While he was walking toward the bath, Professor Snape must have summoned a house elf to fill the tub, for it was already filled with hot steaming water and mild scented bubbles.
Harry dove in and did a few laps before settling down to rest in the relaxing water. He didn't remember at anytime during his thirteen years ever taking a bath. At the Dursley's he was lucky enough to have the opportunity to have a quick sponge bath, and at school he always had to quickly shower so as not to be late. He found that he loved the feel of the steaming water relaxing his muscles and found that the soft scent of the soap calmed his mind.
After realizing that his skin was starting to wrinkle up and after hearing a rumble coming from his stomach, Harry felt that it was time to step out and dry off. After wrapping a large fluffy towel around himself and looking around the room, he found a small pile of clothes waiting for him. He shook out a large pair of deep black jeans and one of the softest sweaters he had ever felt before. Not surprisingly, since the clothes did belong to Snape, the entire outfit was black. After he was fully dressed he looked at himself in the mirror and couldn't control the laughter that erupted at the image he found there. He looked absolutely ridiculous. While Dudley's clothes had been huge on him, at least they were not overly long. Although Dudley was a bit taller than him, it was nothing compared to the difference in height between himself and his professor. The pants were so long that he had to roll them up at least five times. His arms were lost in the sleeves of the sweater. He looked like a small five year old child trying on his father's clothes. Harry dreaded the amused look he was sure to see on Snape but knew that he could not hide in this room forever. Just as he opened the door and stepped out he ran right into his potion master.
Snape took one look at the boy and couldn't keep himself from busting up with laughter. He had not laughed like this since he was a boy but at the sight presented to him he was unable to hide his mirth. "A little on the baggy side, aren't we?" He asked in obvious amusement.
Harry just leveled a glare that would have equaled one of Snape's. "It is not funny!" He shouted while trying to hide his own smile. "Would you please stop laughing long enough to spell the clothes?" He said, not able to contain his own laughter now.
With a wave of his wand, Snape made the clothes fit the boy perfectly. "Now that, that little problem is resolved, it is time to eat." He told the chuckling boy as he guided him to the table that was leaden with food.
Harry looked down at himself. For the first time that he could remember he had on clothes that actually fit him. It felt strange not to have the arms and legs rolled up and not to have to wear rope around his waist to hold up his pants. He smiled in happiness when he realized for the first time, he looked like any other average boy.
Harry let himself be guided to the table and then groaned when he saw how much food was there. "Were you expecting to feed a small army?" He squeaked in trepidation. "Please tell me you don't expect me to eat all of that!"
Professor Snape looked from the heaping piles of food on the table and to the pale complexion of the boy who looked sick at the prospect of having to eat the enormous amount of food. He was very tempted to tease the boy for a little bit but changed his mind. "Just eat what you can. But I do expect you to eat something and not just nibble, understood?" He stated in a stern voice. The child was much too thin, and with the changes going on within him, he knew that if he were to have any chance of surviving it he would have take care of himself.
"Yes sir." Harry said resigned to the fact that he was going to have to at least eat a large plate full. Unfortunately he really was not all that hungry. But he knew the professor would not let him up until he consumed a satisfactory serving of food.
After lunch was finished and the table was cleared the two made their way into the sitting room. The day was spent in comfortable silence. Harry had found that Snape had an extensive library and was able to find a muggle detective novel that was quite entertaining. He was unsurprised to see that Snape was ensconced in a large obscure potion book.
Harry began to listlessly move about in his chair. The closer the time was to five the more anxious and nervous he became. He knew that after dinner, the time would have arrived to go up to the headmaster's office. He was ready to hear the rest of the information that Dumbledore needed to tell him but was also nervous about what he would learn.
In deference to Harry's growing nerves, Snape did not demand he eat a large dinner. They quietly ate sandwiches and drank some pumpkin juice. Not long after dinner the time had finally arrived to head up to the headmaster's office. Severus felt his own nerves beginning to fray. He suspected what was in store for him tonight and he was a little unsure of how he felt about it. Unwilling to dwell on something he was unsure of he shoved the thoughts aside. He would just have to wait and see how the events unfolded tonight.
Snape walked over and tapped Harry on the head. "Come, it is time." He then guided the boy out of the portrait hole.
Thank you goes to Corgi for being nice enough to beta read for me until Saavik comes back ( Oh and before I forget..I DON'T OWN THEM!!
..................................
Harry stretched comfortably in bed not yet willing to open his eyes. He felt comfortable and content and was not ready to face a new day. However, he knew that he could not remain in bed forever and slowly opened his eyes. As he sat up and sleepily rubbed his eyes, the events of the night before slowly seeped into his mind. He looked around with wide eyes when he remembered just where he was.
He surveyed the room and was surprised at what he found. He had always thought that the private chambers of his potion master would either be in Slytherin colors since Professor Snape was the head of Slytherin or dark to match the man's personality. Instead what he found was a bright, comfortable room in pleasant earth tones.
Harry swung his head to face the table where he ate his supper last night when he heard a deep throated chuckle. "I am afraid the color scheme was the headmaster's idea. He got tired of me living in, what he referred to as, a depressing and dreary room." The older wizard said waving his hand to indicate the room they were in.
Snape got up and started walking over to the bed. He narrowed his eyes as he noticed that the boy slowly shrank into himself. With a deep sigh, he slowed his pace and made it clear that he had no intention of hurting the child. During his slow approach towards the bed, he took the opportunity to assess the boy. Harry was dressed in shabby clothes that were many sizes too big for him and he still had smudges of dirt on his face from his ordeal the night before. "I think that the first order of business is for you to get a bath. While you are busy getting clean, I will call a house elf to bring you some lunch."
Harry hesitated. He was a little unsure of spending so much time in this professor's presence. "I can go back to the common room and shower there." He started to say until he remembered that he was thought to be dead. His face reddened in embarrassment. "Yes sir, a bath would be nice. But I am not hungry." At the look that was being leveled at him, he remembered the threat from last night. He relented with a touch of annoyance in his voice. "I guess I can eat a little bit. Wait, lunch, what happened to breakfast?" He asked in surprise.
"You slept through breakfast. It is now almost twelve thirty." He informed the boy in amusement.
"Twelve thirty! Wow, I don't remember ever sleeping that late. Not even on weekends." Harry responded while getting up out of bed. "Um, sir? Where is the bath?" Harry questioned, his cheeks reddening even more. "And what am I to do about clean clothes?" He questioned, while looking down, taking in the muddy state his present clothes were in.
"Go down the hallway and it is the first door on the right. I guess I will just have to lend you some of my clothes until someone can take you to Diagon Alley. Although you seem to prefer your clothes a bit on the baggy side, I am afraid mine would be way too long for you. Therefore, I will spell them to fit." He told the boy, unable to keep the accustomed sarcasm from his voice.
Harry bristled a little at the tone. "I can not help that my cousin is a whale, and his clothes were the only ones my Aunt would give me!" He shouted. "And you try living in a cupboard for eleven years and see how tall you would be!" He retorted to the obvious dig abut his short stature.
Snape bit the inside of his cheek to keep himself from speaking the biting comments that were ready to spill out. "I am sorry." He said through gritted teeth, unaccustomed to apologizing.
Harry was caught of guard by the unexpected apology. Although he could tell it took a lot for his professor to say it, he never expected to hear those words come from this man's mouth. Still feeling a little resentment over the man's earlier attitude he felt brave enough to ask the question that had bothered him for the last three years. "Sir, why do you hate me so much?"
The potion master was a little taken back by the question. He had never expected the boy to be so forward. Deciding to answer honestly, he replied "I don't hate you."
Harry just looked at the older man in confusion for a few moments. "You could have fooled me over the years. Sorry sir, but I am not used to people who don't hate me to constantly insult me." He replied with a little of the hurt and anger bleeding into his voice.
Snape decided to ignore the attitude and took a deep, calming breath to keep his temper in check. "I admit, I thought I hated you. It was really your father that I hated. Plus I had assumed over the years that as the 'boy who lived' that you were spoiled at home. I had assumed that you were just as arrogant and self absorbed as your father was. I realize now that I was wrong."
Harry took a few moments to turn the man's words over in his head. "I suppose I can understand. The only thing anyone has ever seen was the boy who lived. Why should I expect anything different from you?" He said with a touch of bitterness.
"Harry, look at me." He waited until the boy's eyes met his own. "Not everyone only sees the boy who lives. There are those that care for you. Your friends care deeply for you. The Headmaster, Hagrid, and even Minerva love you. I know the world expects a lot from you, but you must not lose sight of the fact that there are those that care for Harry the boy, not Harry the savior."
A tear slowly made its way down Harry's cheek. He quickly brushed it away. "Thank you sir, I know that must have been hard for you to say, and I do appreciate it." Uncomfortable in the sudden silence he decided to change the subject. "I am ready for that bath now."
Snape sighed in relief. He was not used to being so open, especially with the boy he had thought that he hated. "Fine, go ahead and I will bring you some clothes." Harry walked toward the hallway and turned to face the professor. He gave a hesitant smile and then disappeared around the corner. When he opened the door he was surprised to see the huge bath that took up most of the room. It was the size of small pool. Now completely excited for his bath, he quickly stripped out of the hated clothes and jumped in. While he was walking toward the bath, Professor Snape must have summoned a house elf to fill the tub, for it was already filled with hot steaming water and mild scented bubbles.
Harry dove in and did a few laps before settling down to rest in the relaxing water. He didn't remember at anytime during his thirteen years ever taking a bath. At the Dursley's he was lucky enough to have the opportunity to have a quick sponge bath, and at school he always had to quickly shower so as not to be late. He found that he loved the feel of the steaming water relaxing his muscles and found that the soft scent of the soap calmed his mind.
After realizing that his skin was starting to wrinkle up and after hearing a rumble coming from his stomach, Harry felt that it was time to step out and dry off. After wrapping a large fluffy towel around himself and looking around the room, he found a small pile of clothes waiting for him. He shook out a large pair of deep black jeans and one of the softest sweaters he had ever felt before. Not surprisingly, since the clothes did belong to Snape, the entire outfit was black. After he was fully dressed he looked at himself in the mirror and couldn't control the laughter that erupted at the image he found there. He looked absolutely ridiculous. While Dudley's clothes had been huge on him, at least they were not overly long. Although Dudley was a bit taller than him, it was nothing compared to the difference in height between himself and his professor. The pants were so long that he had to roll them up at least five times. His arms were lost in the sleeves of the sweater. He looked like a small five year old child trying on his father's clothes. Harry dreaded the amused look he was sure to see on Snape but knew that he could not hide in this room forever. Just as he opened the door and stepped out he ran right into his potion master.
Snape took one look at the boy and couldn't keep himself from busting up with laughter. He had not laughed like this since he was a boy but at the sight presented to him he was unable to hide his mirth. "A little on the baggy side, aren't we?" He asked in obvious amusement.
Harry just leveled a glare that would have equaled one of Snape's. "It is not funny!" He shouted while trying to hide his own smile. "Would you please stop laughing long enough to spell the clothes?" He said, not able to contain his own laughter now.
With a wave of his wand, Snape made the clothes fit the boy perfectly. "Now that, that little problem is resolved, it is time to eat." He told the chuckling boy as he guided him to the table that was leaden with food.
Harry looked down at himself. For the first time that he could remember he had on clothes that actually fit him. It felt strange not to have the arms and legs rolled up and not to have to wear rope around his waist to hold up his pants. He smiled in happiness when he realized for the first time, he looked like any other average boy.
Harry let himself be guided to the table and then groaned when he saw how much food was there. "Were you expecting to feed a small army?" He squeaked in trepidation. "Please tell me you don't expect me to eat all of that!"
Professor Snape looked from the heaping piles of food on the table and to the pale complexion of the boy who looked sick at the prospect of having to eat the enormous amount of food. He was very tempted to tease the boy for a little bit but changed his mind. "Just eat what you can. But I do expect you to eat something and not just nibble, understood?" He stated in a stern voice. The child was much too thin, and with the changes going on within him, he knew that if he were to have any chance of surviving it he would have take care of himself.
"Yes sir." Harry said resigned to the fact that he was going to have to at least eat a large plate full. Unfortunately he really was not all that hungry. But he knew the professor would not let him up until he consumed a satisfactory serving of food.
After lunch was finished and the table was cleared the two made their way into the sitting room. The day was spent in comfortable silence. Harry had found that Snape had an extensive library and was able to find a muggle detective novel that was quite entertaining. He was unsurprised to see that Snape was ensconced in a large obscure potion book.
Harry began to listlessly move about in his chair. The closer the time was to five the more anxious and nervous he became. He knew that after dinner, the time would have arrived to go up to the headmaster's office. He was ready to hear the rest of the information that Dumbledore needed to tell him but was also nervous about what he would learn.
In deference to Harry's growing nerves, Snape did not demand he eat a large dinner. They quietly ate sandwiches and drank some pumpkin juice. Not long after dinner the time had finally arrived to head up to the headmaster's office. Severus felt his own nerves beginning to fray. He suspected what was in store for him tonight and he was a little unsure of how he felt about it. Unwilling to dwell on something he was unsure of he shoved the thoughts aside. He would just have to wait and see how the events unfolded tonight.
Snape walked over and tapped Harry on the head. "Come, it is time." He then guided the boy out of the portrait hole.
