Disclaimer: See prologue

A/N: Thank you all for the amazingly kind reviews, I really never expected this type of reaction to this story. There is another A/N after the chapter, which more personally addresses the reviews I received for the previous chapter.

Chapter Three

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Harry stared at Snape, afraid to speak. He had so many questions, so many things he wanted to ask, but instead, he just sat there, staring at the scowling Professor.

"Well," Snape began, "do you know where you are?" He glared down at the boy for a moment before once again pacing around Harry's chair. Harry shook his head quickly, keeping his eyes on Snape the whole time. "Do you talk Potter, or just nod and shake you head like a baboon all the time?" Snape questioned again sarcastically. Harry was unsure of how he was supposed to answer the question. He wanted to talk, but in the past (meaning at the Dursley's) talking had always gotten him into trouble.

"I talk," Harry said quietly, his voice almost a whisper. Snape silently snickered at Harry's obvious fear of him. Never in all his life did he think the son of the esteemed James Potter would fear him, fear was something far too great for the famous Harry Potter. After all, why would someone who had defeated Lord Voldemort be afraid of a simple Potions Master?

"Well then," Snape hissed, his voice full of malice, "answer my question, verbally."

"I don't know where I am," Harry stated after yet another moment of silence.

"You are at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry--"

"Witchcraft and Wizardry?" Harry interrupted, his voice only a little louder than before. Snape shot a confused expression at the boy. Surely he had heard of Hogwart's before.

"Yes Potter, Witchcraft and Wizardry," Snape repeated irritably. He was in no mood to explain the entire Wizarding world to a six-year-old boy, let alone Harry Potter.

"Wizards are real"? Harry asked, his voice trembling a little less with each passing moment.

"Of course they are Potter, don't be daft," Snape snapped. Harry seemed not to have heard Snape's last remark. His mouth was twisted in thought and his eyes were focused on the floor, lost in concentration.

"Am I a wizard?" Harry asked, raising his head suddenly and staring intently at Snape, his emerald eyes attempting to drill out the truth. To Harry, the idea of him being a wizard seemed initially preposterous, it would, however, explain many of the strange incidents that surrounded Harry's life.

"Yes Potter," Snape sighed out of frustration, "you are a wizard, just like your parents," Snape cringed at the thought of James Potter and regretted bringing Harry's parents into the conversation already.

"My mum and dad were wizards?" Harry asked, his whole face brightening at the prospect of receiving information about his family.

"Did I not just say that Potter?" Snape retorted angrily, hoping to scare the boy away from the subject. Harry lowered his head once again, not wanting Snape to yell at him. "Now if you're quite through wasting my time," Snape sneered, "I'll be off," with that Snape turned, his robes billowing ominously behind him, and prepared to leave.

"What's your name?" Harry whispered as Snape prepared to leave. Snape stopped walking but failed to turn around.

"Professor Snape," the Potions Master nearly growled, all to eager to leave the room and escape Potter's barrage of questioning.

"Thank you Professor Snape," Harry mumbled, getting off the chair and climbing into the bed he had claimed earlier. Snape scoffed silently at Harry's last remark and quickly exited the room. He assumed the boy had thanked him out of some pathetic effort to seem the bigger man, keep up appearances and such. The famous Harry Potter, not only is he a savior, but a gentleman as well, Snape thought as he walked down the empty corridor to his dungeons. The Wizarding worlds perfect little golden boy. He entered his office and slammed the door behind him, his dislike of Harry and his utter frustration manifesting themselves in his actions. He was, however, brought to momentary contentment with the realization that tomorrow night Potter would be gone, and Hogwart's would be Potter-free for four more blissful years.

Harry woke early the next morning, his curiosity for his new surroundings preventing him from sleeping any longer. He crawled out of the hospital bed and quickly changed out of the pajamas Madam Pomfrey had given him. He wasn't sure whether or not he was allowed to walk around the castle and he didn't want to get into trouble, but his curiosity was overwhelming. Maybe just a small walk, he thought as he pulled on a pair of worn out tennis shoes, I'll be back before they even know I'm gone. He quietly crept out of the hospital wing, his eyes darting around wildly with excitement. Before long he had come across a series of painting hanging on the castle walls. His eyes widened in awe as he watched the figures in the paintings wave at him as he passed. Unsure of what to do, he waved back. He walked farther down one of the castles many hallways, glancing at the walls from time to time to check on the paintings. He soon came to a room filled with owls. Never in his life had he seen so many owls all in one place. He walked into the room cautiously, not wanting to startle any of the sleeping birds. To his right he heard the soft squawking of a pale brown owl. He walked over to the owl, wanting desperately to pet it, but he remained a bit tentative. The owl raised it's head and flashed it's honey colored eyes at Harry, causing Harry to approach it and softly stroke it's head.

"Hello," Harry whispered as he rubbed the owls head, "my name is Harry," the owl stared at him, seeming to somehow understand. "I wonder if you have a name?" Harry questioned aloud, searching around the owl's small stall looking for some type of nametag. "I don't see one," Harry mumbled, "maybe I could name you," Harry looked at the owl thoughtfully, trying to come up with the perfect name. Before he had a chance to christen the owl, however, a hand came down on his shoulder.

"Thought you'd pull another one of your famous disappearing acts Potter?" Snape questioned, causing Harry to turn around quickly out of surprise.

"Ah Severus," another, calmer more collected voice began, "I'm sure Harry was just curious as to his current surroundings," Harry looked passed Snape and caught sight of an old man with white hair and a long white beard.

"Headmaster," Snape stated as he too took notice of Dumbledore's presence. "Curiosity aside," Snape sneered, "Potter's disappearance aggravated Madam Pomfrey quite a bit," Snape began, taking a moment to glare at Harry, "she came to my office completely panicked."

"Well she does have a slight tendency to over-react where her patients are concerned," Dumbledore smiled at Harry, his clear blue eyes sparkling as he spoke. "I'm certain Harry didn't mean to frighten Poppy, did you Harry?"

"No, sir," Harry mumbled, moving his gaze to the floor.

"Well then," Dumbledore started, smiling at Harry once more before returning his gaze to Snape, "Severus, would you mind returning Harry to the Hospital Wing. Poppy is eager to finish her examination, then we can get young Harry here back home," Harry's eyes shot up at the mention of home. He didn't want to go home, he was quite happy at Hogwart's and was in no hurry to return to life on Privet Drive.

"As you wish Headmaster," Snape said grudgingly. Dumbledore smiled briefly and headed back to his office. "Come along Potter," Snape hissed, turning and walking towards the door.

"Excuse me sir," Harry began, his voice quiet, "can I ask you a question?"

"You just did Potter," Snape sneered, glaring malevolently down at Harry. Harry looked down at the ground, clearly intimidated of the man in front of him. "Well," Snape snapped irritably, "what pray tell is your question?" Harry remained silent for a moment; he didn't want to make Snape more upset with him.

"I was wondering if maybe I could stay here?" He asked, his voice almost a whisper. Snape looked at him for a moment before answering.

"You want to stay in the Owlery?" Snape questioned in reply. So that's where I am, Harry thought, as he looked at all the sleeping owls once more.

"No, here at Hogwart's," Harry mumbled, not wanting Snape to ridicule him for his request.

"Come now Potter, I would have thought you would be eager to return to your relatives," Snape spat resentfully. Why shouldn't Potter want to go home, Snape thought bitterly, I'm sure those relatives pamper him to no ends. He grimaced slightly at that last thought before once again addressing Harry. "Come with me Potter, now," Snape walked briskly out of the room. Harry looked over at the owl he had acquainted himself with earlier and stroked his head gently once more.

"Goodbye," he whispered to the light brown owl, before scampering out of the Owlery after Snape.

"Professor Snape?" Harry began as he jogged behind the Potions Master, attempting to keep up with Snape's long strides.

"What is it Potter?" Snape questioned impatiently, as he strode rapidly down the long hallway towards the Hospital Wing. Much to Snape's chagrin Harry was becoming increasingly accustomed to the Professor and felt slightly less intimidated when addressing him.

"What are all the owls for?" He asked, as he finally reached Snape's side.

"They send messages," Snape replied simply, not bothering to look at Harry who was struggling to remain at Snape's side.

"Messages to other wizards?" Harry asked, his voice raised with interest.

"Correct Potter," Snape hissed once more. Snape continued down the hall, his pace remaining steady. Only when he looked down, attempting to catch a glimpse of the boy at his side did he slow down. Sometime in the last three minutes of walking, Potter had disappeared, again. Seems to be a prominent hobby of his, Snape thought angrily, not wanting retrace his steps in search of the small boy. Luckily, Harry was not far behind. Snape found him staring at a particularly large painting on one of the castles walls.

"Potter do try to keep up," Snape snarled out of frustration.

"Professor Snape?" Harry questioned, not taking his eyes off the painting.

"What is it Potter?" Snape asked tiredly, not wanting to answer any more of the boys questions.

"How do they move?"

"Magic Potter, didn't we already exhaust this topic?" Snape snapped, grabbing hold of Harry's arm and pulling him away from the painting. "As tempting as it must be for you to wander off, do attempt to control yourself," Snape spat resentfully, as he and Harry continued on their way to the Hospital Wing.

A/N: And now for my responses to the reviews...

Anora: I respect your opinion. I do not expect everyone to like my story or my writing. But if you are taking the time to review I would really appreciate it if you would offer some constructive criticism. What about the story don't you like? In what areas do you think I could improve? That type of thing :)

Kateri: Thank you so much for your review and for taking an interest in this story, I hope you liked this chapter :)

Savi2070: Glad you liked my little aversion of the examination. And look, I did it again! I like to prolong the angst :)

Sarah: That's pretty much what I want to happen, though I hope to do it gracefully and with as little cheesiness as possible.

The Wolf of Were: Thanks so much for the review. I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well!

Jay: I am so glad that you like this story so much :) I love having fans like you; you make all the exhausting hours of writing worth it :) hehe

Englishgirl: I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I'll try to update more frequently for you :)

Lady Lightening: Thanks for taking the time to review. I hope you liked this chapter!

Moon Fairy: Stop, you're making me blush :) Thanks for the review, keep 'em comin'! I hope you liked the chapter.

Lady Evanescence: I'm glad that you like my story. Thank you so much for taking the time to review.

Layce74: I love these types of stories too :) What did you think of this chapter? I hope you liked it.

I just thought that since you all took the time to review I would take some time to respond. I really am grateful for all the reviews, they keep me writin'!