AN/ Hi everybody ! First of all, thanks to all those who are reading my story, and an extra thanks to those who actually review it ! You know I love you ;-). This chapter is rather long (for me anyway) but it was fun to write ! Once again, I didn't have the time to show it to my Beta so... I promise next chapter will be beated, OK ? By the way Narnian Princess, I might take you on this offer...

Anyway, I hope you like this chapter, Enjoy! :-)

What am I

Chapter 5

Harry looked at the test Snape had just given him. There were about two hundreds questions with a place below each of them where Harry could write the answer.

The herbiology questions went fine, he had made a considerable effort in order to learn those chapters since he knew he was not really good at remembering the plants' particularities. He had also studied potions harder than his other subjects, guessing that Snape was more likely to put traps in those questions. But then again, Snape was likely to put a trap in any question, it was Snape after all. All in all, he had no trouble answering Snape's questions on potions, except for a few which, Harry was sure, were not covered in the chapters Snape had assigned.

The Defense Against the Dark Arts questions were no match for Harry's extended knowledge, but Charms were another matter given that he had read the book in a hurry just before being tested. Transfiguration was the hardest by far, but Harry had never fully understood this particularly difficult branch of magic.

While he was suffering on his parchment, Snape was grading essays, throwing him angry glares as if it were Harry's fault that students were bad at potion. 'Maybe he's just a bad teacher,' thought Harry, 'not the other way around'.

"Time's up, Potter." Harry gave up on trying to answer the last question and handed Snape his parchment.

"Sir, do you have my OWLs results ?" asked Harry in what (he hoped) was a neutral voice.

"I thought you didn't care about the magical world, why would you want your grades ?" Snape was smirking in a rather triumphant way which didn't suit him very well.

Harry shrugged, "Well, I saw I had been given a potion textbook. It intrigued me." And almost as an afterthought, he added, "Sir."

"Do believe that it surprised me as well. But I do not have your OWLs results. You can ask the Headmaster next time we see him."

'If I see him again,' thought Harry rebelliously. A plan slowly elaborated itself in his mind. An evasion. How sweet it would be to be free again ! Harry was so taken in these pleasant thoughts that he realized too late what Snape was doing. Too late, he closed his mind and rejected the potion Master out of his head.

"Well," said Snape, slightly taken aback by the power of Harry's mental defenses, "that was pathetic ! Even without using Legilimency I could see where your mind was heading, boy. If I had been the Dark Lord, I could have known in advance what you were going to do, and you would be dead !"

"How unfortunate," answered Harry, a bored expression on his face. When would the man finally understand that he didn't want to start all over again with the Voldemort's-going-to-kill-you crap ?

"You take this as a joke ?" Severus shook his head, "I wonder why Albus is so concerned by your safety, you're not worth it !"

Harry smirked. "That's not a scoop, professor, actually that's what you've been telling me for the last five years. If it can make you feel better, know that I totally agree with you. I do not know why he puts up with me and, as you might have failed to notice, I didn't ask for his protection."

"Well, Potter, we can add 'ungrateful' on top of all your other... er... 'qualities'."

"And we can add 'illogical' on top of yours, sir. With all due respect, I'd be grateful if I had anything to be grateful for !"

"Careful, Potter, we're not at school but I can sill give you detentions !"

"Go ahead, sir, give me a detention for saying the truth !"

"As you wish," snarled Snape. He grabbed Harry by his elbow, noticing but not acknowledging the slight wince the boy gave when Severus touched him, and led him toward one of his storerooms.

The room was large, messy and full of potion ingredients from top to bottom, which were lying seemingly randomly on the various shelves. Harry knew at once what Snape wanted him to do. Harry mentally shook his head. He had escaped from the Dursleys home where he had been used like a slave, only to end up in Snape's home where he would be used like a slave. He didn't know which was the worst. The Dursleys home or Snape's home ? Definitely the Dursleys, he acknowledge, at least at Snape's , he had to do something to be punished, he wasn't in trouble just for breathing the air. Ok, so maybe he had crossed the line, but he had some real difficulties adjusting himself to the situation.

"Organize everything in alphabetical order, without magic. You'll eat after being done with this."

Snape sneered as he saw the boy's face. They're was no way he would have finished this detention by dinnertime, Severus knew it, but he wanted to see the boy on his knees, begging and confessing that he had been wrong and that he was just an insolent and ignorant brat. Revenge really was a sweet concept. Once in the corridor, Severus closed the door behind him and waited a few seconds, fully expecting the boy to come out and shout that it was impossible. Surprisingly, he didn't, and Severus headed toward his lab, wondering if the Potter boy had finally learned to keep his fat mouth shut.

Harry was working, and he was working hard. It didn't prevent him from swearing almost ten times per minute, though. A moment, he told himself that he would never finish before dinner, but he quickly chased those thoughts away. He had to finish before dinner. Harry suppressed a sigh when he heard the low growl of his stomach. He had skipped breakfast and lunch to study those stupid books and now, Snape was going to make him miss dinner. He may have been used to being starved, but it didn't mean that he actually liked it. Stifling a yawn, harry placed the Mandrake Powder on the shelf. This detention was rather boring, and he so wanted to sleep. Most of his night had been spent studying, and what little sleep he had got had been filled with pain and screams.

Thinking about what had started the argument, Harry suddenly remembered his evasion plan. He had noticed that Snape had put alarm charms on the house so that if Harry went outside he would know instantaneously, and Harry also knew that Snape had conjured a sort of binding spell which ensured that Harry could not be more than a certain distance from him. Just like a leash thought Harry, disgusted.

But sooner or later, Snape would be called to a Death Eater meeting. This would be Harry's chance. Snape would have to untie himself from Harry in order to attend the meeting, and even if the alarm charms went off, Snape would not be able to leave in the middle of a meeting, Voldemort would not permit it. So, Snape would know he had escaped, but wouldn't have any mean to do anything about it until he came back. This would probably give Harry enough time to reach the closer city and take the first bus to Merlin knows where.

Harry smiled, but somehow, his smile became a yawn.

Severus was satisfied. The potion would be ready by the following night. Soon, he would be free from the famous Harry Potter. Speaking of which, it was time to go and free the insufferable boy from his impossible task. It was eight o'clock, the boy hadn't shown any sign of life, and Severus knew that he had skipped lunch. The brat was skinny enough as it was, no need to prevent him from eating.

Sneer on hiss lips and a scathing remark on his tongue, Severus opened the door, only to find Harry Potter sleeping soundly on the floor of his storeroom. Severus cocked his head and studied the teen for a few seconds. He was much more tolerable when he was asleep.

Severus looked more closely and frowned. Was the boy whimpering ? He couldn't make out what he was saying but the slight tremors that shook his body were not a reassuring sight. Hoping that the boy wasn't experiencing another vision, Severus softly shook him awake, with a gentleness he didn't know he possessed. The boy gasped and scrambled to his feet, looking haggardly at his surroundings.

"Was it a vision?" asked Snape once the boy had regained part of his composure.

Slowly, Harry shook his head, not trusting his voice. Snape nodded once, not pressing the matter. He knew first hand that lousy childhood tended to come back in the form of nightmares, and most of the time, one didn't like to talk about them. Severus had decided not to confront the boy again about his life at his relatives. If the boy wanted to talk about it, he would listen, but Severus understood why the boy would not want to do so, and he totally respected that choice. It was one of the rare matter on which he could entirely identify himself to Potter.

"It's time for dinner." The boy sent a meaningful look at the room which was only half ordered. Severus sighed in frustration.

"I knew this was impossible when I gave you your detention, but I'm not going to let you starve, tempting as it might be."

Relief shone from the boy's face, even if he was obviously trying to appear indifferent. 'He really thought I was going to keep him there without food until he finished,' thought Severus as he stalked toward the dinning-room. 'Of course, you idiot, it wouldn't be the first time someone starved him.' Sometimes it was so easy to think of the boy as a spoiled and pampered child. This had been Severus' image of Potter for so long that he could not think of him as anything else. Without forgetting that the boy was quite skilled at hiding some parts of his past.

Potter seemed to inhale his food and for a moment, Severus feared the boy might forget to breath between two mouthfuls. 'Maybe he also skipped breakfast,' pondered Severus.

Just as they were finishing their dinner, an alarm rang in the manor. Snape frowned and glared at Harry, probably out of habits.

"It's not me, sir, I'm right here." Harry held up his hands in mock surrender.

"I know that, idiot boy," snarled Snape, "Death Eaters just entered the wards. Quick, come with me."

Harry hurriedly followed Snape who ran up the stairs. Harry noticed that it was the first time he was seeing his teacher run, but he was taken out of his musing when Snape opened a cupboard motioned for him to step inside.

"This cupboard is hidden from every detector spell that I know of, as soon as I close the door, I'll hide the entry. Do not come out on your own, is that understood ? Stay hidden in this cupboard until I come back."

"Just like the good old times," whispered Harry to himself. Snape didn't take the time to ponder on those words, he quickly closed the door in Harry's face and rushed back downstairs.

Harry sat on the floor and pressed his ear against the wall, hoping to catch bits of conversation.

"Mac Near, Leoldi, to what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you ?" This was Snape's voice, hints of sarcasm distinguishable even from Harry's hidden place.

"Our Lord as given us a mission, and it concerns you, Snape."

"Me ?" Again with the sarcasm.

"Yes," said a new voice, "you and your loyalties."

"I see. Perhaps we should discuss this in the living room. If you please."

Harry heard footsteps, a door closing, and then nothing. He sighed and rested his head against the cool wall. He was already bored. It reminded him of the times he had spent sitting alone in his cupboard under the stairs.

His thoughts then went to his life with the others, those who accepted him for who he was, not for who they expected him to be. They were only Muggles, but it had been the first time he had felt alive. And he had loved it. Did they miss him ? Did they even wondered about his disappearance ?

He had seen Snape obliviate them, and it wouldn't be a surprise if the spell had erased every single memory they had had of him as well. The thought was truly frightening. All those people who knew him as 'Seb' had been the best friends he had ever had. Harry felt guilty when he thought about Ron and Hermione, but no matter how hard he tried to convince himself otherwise, and no matter how much he had loved and still loved them, with Ron and Hermione, he couldn't really be himself.

Coming back to the magical world was like jumping in a black hole, not knowing when he would hit the ground.

A scream shook him out of those dark thoughts. At first it was a contained scream, then it gained in intensity. Harry wanted to leave the cupboard, to see chat was happening, but he stayed firmly put. There was nothing he could do about it, except remain hidden in order to avoid adding someone else to the list of casualties.

Harry was worried. After all, he had become used to the Potions master, even if he still hated him. It was a strange feeling to fear for the life of someone you hate. Maybe it was because he knew that the professor was fighting for the Light, fighting against Voldemort. Or maybe it was because Harry had finally got used to the Potions master's unpleasant company. Whatever the cause might be, he was worried.

Harry put his ear back against the wall as he heard footsteps growing nearer and nearer. The two men were talking in low voices which made it impossible for Harry to make out what they were saying. He heard the soft click of the front door and he exhaled a sigh of relief. They were gone. However, Snape had made it clear that he was not to leave the cupboard, so he waited patiently for the man to arrive.

After five minutes of waiting, Harry got curious as well as slightly worried, and decided to take a look in the corridor. No one. Good. He went down the stairs as silently as he could and walked cautiously toward the living-room.

There, sprawled on the floor and seemingly unconscious, was the once frightening Potions master. He was not so impressing now, and he didn't seem so tall anymore. The once enigmatic and elegant black robes were just some clothes, nothing more. Taking one more step, Harry saw that Snape's eyes were open and moving (though rather slowly).

"Can I get you something sir ?" Harry was surprised to hear his own voice filled with concern for his professor.

"Two potions. First drawer of my desk. One blue, one green, labeled as P.A.C.1 and P.A.A.E.5 . No snooping around." Snape's voice was low and ragged. Harry made a mental note to add a glass of water to the list and hurried to Snape's office.

When he came back with the potions, a house-elf carrying a glass of water by his side, Snape had recovered enough strength to drag himself to the sofa. Harry handed him the potions which he drowned in one gulp. Snape shook his head to clear it, and scowled at Harry.

"I clearly remember asking you to stay in the cupboard until I came and got you out myself."

Harry rolled his eyes. "I heard them leave. Besides, I've been careful."

"Still arrogant, I see. I guess you'll never learn Potter." Snape looked like he wanted to say more but he was cut off by a dry cough. Harry handed him the glass of water which Snape didn't take. Instead, he sent a questioning look at Harry.

"It's only water for your throat," explained Harry, slightly exasperated.

Snape threw him a nasty look and accepted the glass of water, but not before adding, "Stop acting like you actually care, Potter, I won't give points to Gryffindor !"

A bewildered look flashed upon the boy's face. Anger was what came next, but it was quickly replaced by resignation.

"If you're quite done insulting me, sir, I'll go to bed. Goodnight Professor."

The door clicked shut and Snape stayed alone in the living-room. 'Right,' thought Snape, 'so maybe, just maybe, that might have been uncalled for.'

AN/ Soooooooo what do you think ? Review please ! ;-)