CH 2 SMALL INCISION

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dark-angel016

BlissfullyIngorant (complain all you want ^_^ and thank you for telling me about my review mess up)

KittenBabyGirl

Lover-G

lillinfields

Mortis-Exspectare-Tu

airygirl131129

kristendotcom

CHAPTER 2: And off to Snape's We Go

(Also, there is an excerpt for chapter three at the bottom.)

He woke up a few hours later and looked at the clock. It was past lunch time and no one had been to wake him up. He found this quite odd, because Petunia and Vernon had never let Harry sleep in late in the past.

He sighed and rolled out of bed to walk toward his wardrobe. He opened it and fished around for a clean shirt. He pulled one out and took off the shirt he was wearing. He was about to put on the clean shirt when he stopped to look at his shoulder. The three gashes he had made the previous night were now red and swollen and felt extremely sore.

Better clean these up so they don't get infected... He laughed inwardly at that thought... laughed that he should care if infection set in when it was he who had done the damage in the first place. He decided to clean them after he got something to eat. He pulled on the clean shirt and tugged at the sleeve, making sure it covered the cuts. He walked out of his room and headed down the stairs toward the kitchen.

Harry came down the stairs to find that no one was about. Curiously, he walked into the kitchen and spotted a piece of paper on the table. He walked closer to look at it. It was a note.

Harry-

We've gone grocery shopping. Didn't want to wake you. There are sandwiches in the fridge.

The note wasn't signed. Harry raised his eyebrows and stared at it for a moment before walking to the bin and discarding it. He then walked to the fridge and opened it to look for the sandwiches, expecting find some nasty corn beef between bread or some such thing of the sort. Instead he found three turkey sandwiches with mayonnaise and tomato piled on a plate. He took out the plate as well as a soda and walked over to the table to eat. He only managed to eat one sandwich and half of another.

He was about to put the remains back in the fridge when Hedwig came flying through the open window above the sink and landed on the table. Hooting loudly, she extended a leg to show him the rolled up piece of parchment tied to it. Harry's eyebrows came together in an expression mixed with confusion and anger.

This better be important. I don't want Hedwig carrying around mail. She could be intercepted and harmed or something.

He took the parchment from Hedwig's leg and set it aside to give her a once over, making sure that she wasn't harmed. She nipped his fingers playfully, amused at his concern. She looked at him with an expression that clearly said "Bah! I can't be caught... you should know better." Harry smiled and gave her some turkey from a sandwich, then turned his attention to the letter. He opened it and scanned it quickly. It was from Ron.

Dear Harry,

Hermione's here at the Burrow with us. Dumbledore told us that you could come in a few weeks. How is our summer going so far? Lupin told us about Moody's warning to your relative at the station. Are they more bearable now? Can't wait to hear from you!!

Ron

Furious, Harry crumpled the letter and threw it in the bin. What is Ron's problem? Hedwig might have been hurt if someone saw her carrying that! It wasn't even important! He sat fuming over Ron's stupidity. Hedwig hooted at him questioningly, as if you ask why he wasn't writing a response.

Harry patted her head. "I don't want you to carry any mail unless it's extremely important." She hooted at him indignantly, and nipped his finger. "I'm serious Hedwig! You could get hurt!" She looked at him reproachfully, insulted by his lack of confidence in her to keep herself safe.

The next two or so weeks were the same as the first night. The Durselys treaded cautiously around him and continued to act civil. He didn't care too much. Before he knew it, it was time to go to the Burrow. He was filled with both excitement and dread. Excited to see his friends, but dreading it all the same. His anger over the letter Ron sent had long since dissipated by the time of the departure. He knew that Ron was only concerned, and he appreciated that. He didn't want them to try to talk to him about Sirius though, and that was why he dreaded going. He also dreaded going because he knew that if he didn't act happy Molly would badger him and try every way possible make him smile. He was also worried that they would find out about the cutting.

Harry had only cut himself twice after the fist time. He was feeling a little better... well, not better, just more numb. There were times, though, when the numbness wore off and it seemed that even his skin was alive with the guilt and pain. That was when he cut himself.

Arthur and Ron arrived to take Harry to the Burrow.

____________________________________________________________

The next two weeks weren't as bad as he thought they would be. Ron and Hermione never found out about the cuttings, and they didn't try to make him talk about Sirius. He was feeling relatively better by the end of the two weeks... he was at least laughing and smiling a little. He felt that cutting himself was helping to get rid of the pain, and he could be happy as long as he had that.

"Gah, it's the last day, Harry. You have to go to Hogwarts now and stay with Snape." Ron grimaced as he said this. Harry shrugged. He wanted to feel indifferent about spending the rest of his summer with Snape. He had tried to convince himself that it wasn't Snape's fault that Sirius died. It had felt good to think that Snape was partially to blame, but Harry knew that fault belonged entirely to himself.

"I don't know how you could be so calm about this. I'd run away! He's going to torture you Harry!" Ron spouted. Harry shrugged again and smiled slightly. Let Snape torture me... maybe that will help just as the cuttings do. Harry's thoughts were interrupted as a dark owl flew through an open window and landed on the back of the couch. It extended its leg out to Harry.

"I've never seen this owl... I wonder if the letter is from Dumbledore." Harry took the letter from the owl and opened it. The owl flew out of the window as soon as Harry opened the letter.

Potter,

As you know, you will be staying with me for the rest of the summer. I expect you to bring all of your things as you will not be going back to the Weasley's. I will come to pick you up at four p.m..

S.S.

Harry looked at the clock. "Damn! He's going to be here in less than an hour." Ron took the letter and read it with a look of disbelief on his face. "He's coming here?!" Ron groaned. Harry sighed. Hermione walked into the room and looked at the twin expressions of dejection on the boys' faces. "What's wrong with you two? You look as though someone died." Ron handed her the letter. She arched an eyebrow. "This doesn't explain why you two are moping about." Ron looked at her in disbelief. "Snape is coming here to pick up Harry so that he can torture him for the rest of the summer! Why aren't you upset?" He spouted, glaring at Hermione. "Snape isn't evil you know. Honestly, you can be so childish sometimes. He's not going to torture Harry, especially not in Hogwarts." She glared back. Ron rolled his eyes. "I guess you better start packing Harry. It's about 3:30." Hermione said, glancing at her watch. "Need some help?" Harry stood up. "Sure. Thanks." He trudged up the stairs, followed by Ron and Hermione.

4:00 came in what seemed to be only a blink of the eye. Harry and the others heard a knock on the door downstairs, and then Molly answering the knock. "Hello Severus! Come in, come in. Harry is still upstairs packing." Harry didn't hear any reply, but he heard Molly come to the foot of the stairs. "Harry! Professor Snape is here to pick you up. Have you finished packing?" Harry and Ron groaned simultaneously and Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Well, I guess we better get a move on. Making him wait won't improve his mood..." Ron helped Harry pick up his trunk and lug it down the stairs. Once they reached the end of the stairs they set the trunk down and Harry turned around to face his Potions Professor.

Snape stood glaring at Harry, who was now almost eye-level with the older man thanks to his growth spurt. "Are you ready Potter?" Snape asked in his usual biting tone. "Yes, Professor." Harry tried not to glare. "Are you sure you don't want to stay for dinner, Professor?" Molly asked. "Quite sure. Thank you for the offer." He bowed his head slightly. Harry was a bit surprised that Snape could be civil. Molly smiled.

Harry walked over to his trunk and Ron moved to help him. "Don't bother." Snape said, pointing his wand at the trunk. He muttered a levitation spell and the trunk floated in the air. "Come along, Potter." He waved his wand, walking out of the door. Harry waved a small good bye to Ron and everyone else and followed Snape outside. Once out he looked around for whatever Snape had come in. He saw nothing. He's going to make me walk? How far is it from here to Hogwarts?

"Come here Potter, we're going to apparate to Hogsmeade, then walk to Hogwarts from there. It's not a long walk." Snape beckoned Harry to stand next to him. Harry walked over to his side and looked up at him. "I can't apparate." He said looking at Snape. "I know that. That's why I told you to come here." Snape circled one arm around Harry's shoulders to bring him closer. "Wrap your arms around my waist... I have to hold onto the trunk and the wand, so you have to hold on to me." Harry hesitantly did as he was told, slowly wrapping his arms around the older man's middle. Snape, feeling the loose grip the boy had on him sighed. "Harry, tighten your arms. If you don't you may not get to Hogsmeade in one piece." Harry tightened his grip. He barely registered that Snape had actually used his first name before they disapparated.

--Bastet

Cliche, I know, I know. You've probably read this scenario a thousand times, but it will get better, I promise. Please review!!!!! :sniffles: I love reviews. Also, there is an excerpt from the next chapter below.

Severus stumbled about his room in the dark and walked towards the bathroom. He saw the light on beneath the door. Without thinking that Harry might be in there, he twisted the knob and stepped into the bathroom. He stumbled back at the sight before him.

"What in the hell are you doing Harry!" He lunged forward and grabbed the blade from the boy's hand. Harry didn't struggle, as he was too shocked to do so. He stared at Severus and had on his face the expression of the proverbial deer caught in the headlights. One thought kept resounding in his head: I've been caught. I've been caught. Severus stared at the bloody shaving blade and at the cuts on Harry's arm. His eyes followed the tiny trail of blood making its way from Harry's shoulder to his elbow. He repeated in a quieter but no less angry tone, "What in the hell are you doing, Harry?" He looked at the boy, his eyes impassive.