As Strong as we are united.
Chapter Three - Sleep Well
Snape observed the boy for several long moments as he sipped his scalding drink and felt its warmth fill his body. Harry was hunched up, trying to make himself as small as possible, shivering despite the blanket around his shoulders and the steaming mug in his hands. Snape decided that the boy could do with some pepper up potion, and so retrieved a small vial from his cupboard and said, "give me your mug boy."
Harry obeyed after only a slight hesitation, unwilling to give away his drink. He watched curiously as Snape emptied the vial he carried into the mug and handed it back to him. When he once again held the mug, Harry spoke "uh, mister, what was that?"
Snape frowned "it's pepper-up potion, it will make you feel better and get rid of your cold." When Harry still hesitated, he spoke again "drink up lad, its not poison I promise." Harry drank deeply, and immediately felt better.
"No doubt you have many questions. I will answer some tonight, and the rest in the morning. But first, you need to eat something." Snape walked over to the kitchen area and cut some bread before spreading three slices with honey, placing it on a plate and putting it before Harry. Harry stared.
"Am I supposed to eat it mister?" Harry enquired uncertainly.
"Of course you're supposed to eat it, what else would you do with it?"
"Sorry. It's just, I've never had honey on bread before, and I always wanted to try it." Snape stared, but decided to come back to that issue later.
"So, Harry, what would you like to ask?"
After thinking for a few moments Harry spoke slowly "Who are you? Where am I? Why am I here? Am I really never going back to the Dursley's like you said?" The last question was whispered so quietly Snape had to strain his ears to catch it.
"My name is Severus Snape, and I am a teacher. This is my family's ancestral home, or at least the manor house used to be. I prefer to life here, which is the farmhouse. No, you are never going back to the Dursleys as long as I have a say in it." Snape paused, that was the easy ones to answer, and seeing that Harry was fighting to hide yawns, made his decision. "As to the question of why you are here, it's late and I think we should talk about that tomorrow."
Harry nodded, his "yes mister" being cut off by a yawn. Snape struggled to hide a smile as he took their two mugs and rinsed them out in the sink.
"Follow me Harry, I'll show you where you will be sleeping." Harry stood up and swaying made his way out of the room and up the two sets of stairs to the attic, Snape had to practically push him up the stairs he was so tired. When the reached the attic, Snape went into a small room that contained a bed, a bedside table, and several other pieces of furniture, he propelled Harry over to the bed and told him to wait while he fetched a shirt for Harry to wear in bed.
When Snape returned a few moments later, it was to find the boy asleep where he sat. Snape, unable to wake him, and unwilling to disturb his rest, awkwardly removed the boys shoes and trousers, frowning when he was able to see how bad a state they were in. When he moved to take of Harry's shirt he got an even bigger shock however; Harry's back was bruised, and eight angry looking red welts stood out against the boy's pale skin, several of which had been bleeding. Snape struggled to control his temper, and fetched a damp cloth to clean the cuts. When his hands, which were shaking with fury, gently used the cloth to clean Harry's back, the boy stirred but did not wake.
Having done the best job he could without waking the boy, Snape pulled the large shirt over the boy's head, and gently laid him under the soft blanket and sheet covering the bed. He stood back, meaning to go straight downstairs and throw Harry's old clothes on the fire, but, acting purely on impulse, gently brushed Harry's hair off his forehead and softly murmured "sleep well."
Notes so far
Thank-you to everyone who has reviewed, the next time I went online after posting the first chapter, I found I had six reviews, and I was so pleased I immediately wrote the second chapter. Just so you know, I will never post a chapter under 600 words, as I feel this is a waste of time, and I will do my best to update everyday if I can. A few words on Harry and Snape's characters, Harry is going to be quite tentative to start with,, because he is unsure what is expected of him, but he will get more confident as he gets to know Severus better. Snape, well the thing I like about him is the way he is mean but so good at the same time, so I will not change he to being totally kind and good, he will have his kind moments (they will surprise him as much as us) but he will be loosing his temper several times to and that sneer is definitely not going away. So that's chapter three, please review, it really improves my mood. Thanks. Emma.
Chapter Three - Sleep Well
Snape observed the boy for several long moments as he sipped his scalding drink and felt its warmth fill his body. Harry was hunched up, trying to make himself as small as possible, shivering despite the blanket around his shoulders and the steaming mug in his hands. Snape decided that the boy could do with some pepper up potion, and so retrieved a small vial from his cupboard and said, "give me your mug boy."
Harry obeyed after only a slight hesitation, unwilling to give away his drink. He watched curiously as Snape emptied the vial he carried into the mug and handed it back to him. When he once again held the mug, Harry spoke "uh, mister, what was that?"
Snape frowned "it's pepper-up potion, it will make you feel better and get rid of your cold." When Harry still hesitated, he spoke again "drink up lad, its not poison I promise." Harry drank deeply, and immediately felt better.
"No doubt you have many questions. I will answer some tonight, and the rest in the morning. But first, you need to eat something." Snape walked over to the kitchen area and cut some bread before spreading three slices with honey, placing it on a plate and putting it before Harry. Harry stared.
"Am I supposed to eat it mister?" Harry enquired uncertainly.
"Of course you're supposed to eat it, what else would you do with it?"
"Sorry. It's just, I've never had honey on bread before, and I always wanted to try it." Snape stared, but decided to come back to that issue later.
"So, Harry, what would you like to ask?"
After thinking for a few moments Harry spoke slowly "Who are you? Where am I? Why am I here? Am I really never going back to the Dursley's like you said?" The last question was whispered so quietly Snape had to strain his ears to catch it.
"My name is Severus Snape, and I am a teacher. This is my family's ancestral home, or at least the manor house used to be. I prefer to life here, which is the farmhouse. No, you are never going back to the Dursleys as long as I have a say in it." Snape paused, that was the easy ones to answer, and seeing that Harry was fighting to hide yawns, made his decision. "As to the question of why you are here, it's late and I think we should talk about that tomorrow."
Harry nodded, his "yes mister" being cut off by a yawn. Snape struggled to hide a smile as he took their two mugs and rinsed them out in the sink.
"Follow me Harry, I'll show you where you will be sleeping." Harry stood up and swaying made his way out of the room and up the two sets of stairs to the attic, Snape had to practically push him up the stairs he was so tired. When the reached the attic, Snape went into a small room that contained a bed, a bedside table, and several other pieces of furniture, he propelled Harry over to the bed and told him to wait while he fetched a shirt for Harry to wear in bed.
When Snape returned a few moments later, it was to find the boy asleep where he sat. Snape, unable to wake him, and unwilling to disturb his rest, awkwardly removed the boys shoes and trousers, frowning when he was able to see how bad a state they were in. When he moved to take of Harry's shirt he got an even bigger shock however; Harry's back was bruised, and eight angry looking red welts stood out against the boy's pale skin, several of which had been bleeding. Snape struggled to control his temper, and fetched a damp cloth to clean the cuts. When his hands, which were shaking with fury, gently used the cloth to clean Harry's back, the boy stirred but did not wake.
Having done the best job he could without waking the boy, Snape pulled the large shirt over the boy's head, and gently laid him under the soft blanket and sheet covering the bed. He stood back, meaning to go straight downstairs and throw Harry's old clothes on the fire, but, acting purely on impulse, gently brushed Harry's hair off his forehead and softly murmured "sleep well."
Notes so far
Thank-you to everyone who has reviewed, the next time I went online after posting the first chapter, I found I had six reviews, and I was so pleased I immediately wrote the second chapter. Just so you know, I will never post a chapter under 600 words, as I feel this is a waste of time, and I will do my best to update everyday if I can. A few words on Harry and Snape's characters, Harry is going to be quite tentative to start with,, because he is unsure what is expected of him, but he will get more confident as he gets to know Severus better. Snape, well the thing I like about him is the way he is mean but so good at the same time, so I will not change he to being totally kind and good, he will have his kind moments (they will surprise him as much as us) but he will be loosing his temper several times to and that sneer is definitely not going away. So that's chapter three, please review, it really improves my mood. Thanks. Emma.